January / February 2024

Columns compiled by your class correspondents

1940s

1948

In lieu of news, I will share an excerpt from an essay I wrote about my time at Cornell, which was originally written for and published by my fraternity:

I finished high school in Saugerties, NY, on the Hudson River, in June 1941, and entered Cornell that September, courtesy of a New York State scholarship and a McMullan engineering scholarship. I was enrolled in chemical engineering, which was still meeting in Baker Hall of the chemistry department. Chemical engineering was a new degree, requiring 192 credit hours over five years (the Arts and Sciences College said we had to take all the chemistry as chem majors and the Engineering College said we had to take all the engineering as mechanical engineering majors).

I lived at the Cayuga Student Residence Association, a co-op at 630 Stewart Avenue, to limit my college expenses. CSRA had three desks per study, a basement cafeteria, and an unheated sleeping dorm in the attic. We all shared the chores. I was in the main-floor living room on December 7, 1941, when President Roosevelt came on the radio to tell of Pearl Harbor and then to declare war on Japan. Over the months after this, most of us volunteered for service. I tried to get into the Naval Air Corps but discovered I was partly color blind and ended up in the Army instead.

Cornell in wartime was different. Navy V-5 and V-12 programs trained many for active service. Dorms and fraternity houses became military dorms. Chemical engineers went on a three-term year, with me taking 18 hours of chemistry (lectures and many labs) in the summer of 1942 and 19 hours each term of the 1942–43 academic year. We did make the most of summer organic chem labs; on Saturday morning, the noise level began to rise about 10 a.m., and the teacher would run around, removing what was left of the ethanol from the shelves. We also learned to set up organic synthesis experiments that required long “refluxing” and leave them in the care of one bench-mate while the rest of us went swimming in Beebe Lake.

We learned to set up experiments and leave them in the care of one bench-mate while the rest of us went swimming in Beebe Lake.

Ray Tuttle ’48

I was called to active duty in June 1943 at Camp Upton, an Army installation on Long Island in Yaphank, and I did basic in the field artillery (Cornell ROTC) at Fort Bragg, NC. I went back to college at Rhode Island in electronic engineering for one term, then to the Signal Corps and overseas to England, France, and Germany. I then went by troop ship through the Panama Canal to the South Pacific. I was still at sea south of Hawaii when the atom bombs were dropped, and thereby avoided invading Japan. We landed in the Philippines and then went up to Japan as occupation troops. I went back to the U.S. in February 1946, just in time for the spring term at Cornell.

The campus was overcrowded with existing students, returning veterans, and residuals from Navy V-12 programs. Housing was a big problem, and I was assigned a room in Sage Hall, which had been a women’s dorm before the war. My roommate was a freshman, Dave Klauder ’49, MBA ’51, and therein began my life with Alpha Delta Phi. Dave was from Niagara Falls, which had a very strong Alpha Delta Phi alumni group, and Dave was rushed by Alpha Delt on their recommendation. He pledged and then told them they ought to rush Ray Tuttle, his new roommate, a junior who had been on Cornell’s tennis team pre-war and who would be helpful in raising Alpha Delt’s grade-point average. So they rushed me, and I pledged. The Alpha Delt house had just been turned back to the fraternity by the Navy, and it filled up quickly with occupants, both current brothers and pledges! We also took in all the returning Kappa Alpha brothers, because the Navy still had not turned their house back to them, so for a time, it was not at all a typical fraternity house restricted to initiated members only.

There was also another major change, either in the spring or fall of 1946. Pre-war, the fraternity house had been set up for 22 occupants in 11 two-member suites, each consisting of a study and a bedroom. After the war, the need for more income and the ability to pledge and initiate more members led to the conversion of most of the suites to three members. In addition, the ground-floor alumni suite, which was occupied only by visiting alumni in pre-war days, was converted to a three-man, two-room suite, plus a one-man suite and a bathroom for the four occupants. The total house occupancy went up into the high 30s.

Fraternity life and the initiation ritual was somewhat different just after the war, compared to what it had been or what it reverted back to a few years later. The returning WWII veterans would not stand for some of “this foolishness,” and those actives who had never gone to war both respected the veterans and even were afraid to pull some of the pranks of the past.

I will share another excerpt in our next column, so please stay tuned! ❖ Ray Tuttle (email Ray) | Alumni Directory.

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1949

Happy New Year! Please take a moment to write to us. What is a typical day in your life like? Is anything new happening with your family? Have you read any good books lately? We’d love to hear from you. ❖ Class of 1949 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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1950s

1950

I received a cogent letter from active nonagenarian Elizabeth “Betsy” Alexander Weis (Osprey, FL) suggesting that, given the lack of personal news from classmates, our class column might feature succinct biographies of outstanding members of the Cornell Class of the Century. Noting that references to the Greatest Generation typically mention men, not women, she suggested that precedence should be given to the women of our class. Of course, most would be of deceased classmates, but that should not in any way diminish interest in them.

Betsy’s idea had a genesis in a 2005 book by our accomplished classmate Marion Steinmann titled Women at Work: Demolishing a Myth of the 1950s. The myth was that women college graduates should conform meekly to the mores of the times—in particular, that women were to assume social roles as household managers and baby makers, and not be employed outside the home. In those days, a college education for a female was mostly limited to preparation for a career in nursing or K-12 education. An education in Cornell’s College of Home Economics, while including courses in the sciences and the liberal arts, was nevertheless focused on the then-prevailing role of household manager and child rearing.

In her book, Marion describes the working lives of 191 of our women classmates, noting how, with dignity and perseverance, they overcame then-prevailing prejudices and social restrictions to acquire advanced degrees and succeed in the professions of law, medicine, education, and more. And they did so while birthing and nurturing babies, mentoring children, tolerating teens, and managing households for husbands and kids. Think of preparing meals, doing laundry, cleaning the house, and nurturing and disciplining kids—and attempting to carve out a quiet time for academic studies—while a husband golfs. Looking back over the nearly 75 years since we left the Hill, it’s amazing to note the extent to which women have been liberated and now hold high-level positions in professions, politics, and business.

Betsy’s suggestion is attractive but presents a few problems. First, because a high percentage of the women graduates are deceased, I cannot interview them. It appears that I would have to make selections from those women featured in Marion’s book, and that would entail arbitrary criteria. However, I’ll work on this suggested project and see what I can do for future columns.

In her book, Marion Steinmann ’50 describes the working lives of 191 of our women classmates, noting how they overcame then-prevailing prejudices and social restrictions.

For this issue, I provide here some revealing statistics drawn from both Marion’s book and our yearbook. An astonishing chart constructed from a review of the college reports in our 1950 yearbook shows that of the 1,653 grads in our class, 285—about 17%—of them were women. The percentage of women graduates in each college are as follows: Agriculture, 6%; Architecture, 2.5%; Arts & Sciences, 27%; Engineering, 0.04%; Home Economics, 100%; Hotel Administration, 1.2%; Industrial and Labor Relations, 6.7%; and Veterinary Medicine, 2.7%. (Note: Because 17% of graduates chose not to have their photos and campus activities included in the yearbook, these numbers can only provide a rough, although revealing, snapshot.)

More numbers from Marion’s book: Women represented 17% of our graduating class, or one in six. Some women were in their 40s when they entered Cornell. At least five were WWII veterans, and one had been a prisoner of war. Almost all women graduates were employed between graduation and having children. Of all the women graduates, at least 119 earned at least 134 graduate degrees. Five earned MDs. Eleven earned law degrees and one became a judge. Twenty-two earned PhDs or other doctoral degrees. One became a college dean. Eighty-seven earned master’s degrees. Three earned second bachelor’s degrees. And at least 17 women graduates wrote, edited, or translated at least 78 books.

That’s only a peek at what the women of the Class of the Century accomplished post-graduation. It’s impossible to easily find how many women graduates are still alive and active. If you are reading this and are one of those, please send me a report.

I received a nice phone call and subsequent email from Willard Holman thanking me for outstanding work with our Class Notes column. Over the years, when I have had insufficient news, I have used my 900-word allotment to share stories I thought to be of interest to readers. Several years ago, members of other classes began to read my column and responded positively, generating a small sort of cult. These, and occasional notes from you all, are a major stimulus to keep going with this column. ❖ Paul Joslin (email Paul) | 13731 Hickman Rd., #4207, Urbandale, IA 50323 | tel., (515) 278-0960 | Alumni Directory.

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1951

I hope you will take the time in this new year to write to us! Your classmates would love to hear from you. What have you been up to lately? What are your best memories of Cornell? Did you meet anyone on campus who changed the trajectory of your life? Let us know. ❖ Class of 1951 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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1952

Tom Cashel, LLB ’56, here, writing from Lake Wales, FL. As president and correspondent of our Class of 1952, I appreciate the continuing engagement of many of our classmates in supporting the class and Cornell, and in sharing their news of this phase of our lives. We have lived through so many changes, crises, triumphs, and disappointments—but what resonates through my correspondence and conversation with many of you is the enduring sense of love, family, productive achievement, and determination to make our days as purposeful as we can.

M. Carr Ferguson, LLB ’54, wrote from Lakeville, CT, “We alums of over 70 years look back more than forward—a bad habit encouraged by your questions, Tom. To answer them briefly, I’m grateful for my 72 years of love and marriage to Marian, who died last November, and for blundering into a branch of the law (tax) I’d failed to study at Cornell, which gave me a life of government service, private practice, and teaching on the faculties of four law schools, ending my last seminar after COVID forced me to teach remotely, which distanced me uncomfortably from my students. Cornell proved formative for this 17-year-old freshman. Much was given and demanded by the faculty, as classes in history, government, language, and philosophy turned me away from early pre-med intentions eventually to law, and lifetime friendships were made through sports, the Big Red Band, Seal & Serpent, and classes. Cornell’s paramount lesson to this Arts & Sciences student was the revelation that all learning across the campus was practical. Whether we studied animal husbandry, hard science, or the craft of writing, we were equipping ourselves for service. We males also learned how superior many of our coeds were—a lesson which led me to a long and finally successful campaign to make Seal & Serpent a truly coed society. While I was able to endow a faculty office named for my favorite professor (Rudolf Schlesinger) and a scholarship, I’m proudest of helping my fraternity become a society open to any Cornellian.”

Stephen Tauber writes from Lexington, MA, that he is mobile and active at age 91, working as a volunteer at the Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal History, organizing its collection of U.S. perfins, and beginning on its collection of German stamps and covers. He enjoys sharing a home with a daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, and visits with a second daughter as time and geography permit. His favorite memories of Cornell were extracurricular activities with friends in the drama club, folk dancers, the science fiction society, and the daily Chimes. “For two weeks in June and July, I traveled with my son and daughter-in-law to Svalbard. Several days we spent in Longyearbyen, a town of about 2,000 and the location of the northernmost chocolatier, grocery store, pharmacy, fuel station, and golf course in the world. We then cruised around Svalbard for 10 days as part of a group of 12, led by two naturalists. In addition to magnificent scenery, including the jagged mountains for which Spitsbergen was named and many massive (but retreating) glaciers, we saw a great variety of wildlife: reindeer, polar bears, walruses, arctic foxes, a blue whale (!), a beluga, harbor and bearded seals, and a wide variety of birds. This included the rare ivory gull plus the glaucus gull, common eider, Atlantic puffin, Brünnich’s and black guillemot (the latter by the tens of thousands in a rookery), and Arctic tern. The boat crew was French, including a French cook. In August I participated in the wedding of a grandniece by reciting one of the seven blessings.”

We cruised around Svalbard for 10 days as part of a group of 12, led by two naturalists.

Stephen Tauber ’52

Ann Coffeen Turner writes from Keene, NH, that tutoring brings her the most satisfaction these days. She is publishing her teaching materials on Teachers Pay Teachers, an online marketplace for buying and selling educator resources. She recalls her favorite memory—singing St. Matthew Passion and the Brahms Requiem in Sage Chapel.

Class VP Sid Goldstein, MD ’56, writes, “I’m still in my house in Bloomfield Hills, MI, that Phebe (Vandervort) and I moved into almost 50 years ago. Phebe died about three years ago. I’m trying to resist moving into a senior living residence, like every other surviving classmate—a lot of pressure from my children in the Boston area. I quit practicing cardiology about six years ago but remain co-editor of a cardiology research journal, which keeps me marginally involved in medicine. I play a few rounds of golf, weather permitting, I have taken up painting with marginal success, and I plan to contribute to the Class of ’52 museum. Also doing some travel with a theater tour in London and a little Caribbean cruising. I’m looking forward to our 75th, when I plan to depose our current president and move up from my VP responsibilities. All the best.”

Nancy Rittershausen McDowell in Tappan, NY, writes, “Please extend my thanks to those intrepid classmates who have hung in there all these years attending to class business. Huzzahs!” She wryly suggests, “It has taken me 92 years to realize that my greatest enemy is gravity.” ❖ Thomas Cashel, LLB ’56 (email Tom) | Alumni Directory.

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1953

This spring, our appreciated friend and classmate Caroline Mulford Owens asked if I would compose the September/October Class Notes column. I was glad to oblige. Immediately thereafter, I broke my left femur in a clumsy fall, and retreated to our bucolic Michigan cottage for months of rehab and awkwardness aboard one of those tennis-ball walkers you may also have used. By Labor Day, I could bend my knee enough to enter and drive a car, so I headed back to Pinehurst, NC, and lots of neglected work. I am glad to be writing this column now—a bit later than originally expected.

Kudos to classmate Julian Aroesty, who reached out to us from Scituate, MA, where he and his wife, Elaine, continue a very active lifestyle. Julian has shrugged off two bouts of COVID and has returned to his daily routine of five-mile bike forays. He also attends and participates in weekly hospital teaching conferences and reviews malpractice cases for the Harvard self-insured program. Grandchildren Heyden, 5, and Claire, 3, are nearby, and it sounds as if both are blessed with intelligence beyond their chronology, rewarding their grandparents’ attentions. Julian credits his Cornell years plus his military service in Korea with changing his early intention of doing scientific research into his compelling 60-year career as a cancer specialist.

Julian Aroesty ’53 has shrugged off two bouts of COVID and has returned to his daily routine of five-mile bike forays.

Arthur Kover has also responded to our call for personal updates. He and wife Margaret live in Philadelphia, PA. Arthur recalled with nostalgia a memory from his student years that encapsulates, for him, a trend away from the simple joys we once experienced as undergraduates. As a junior and senior on the Hill, Arthur occasionally wandered into the field house near Schoellkopf. There, he encountered a Mason jar full of faded, desiccated pickles among the aging trophies on display. “The juice was long gone,” Arthur wrote. “A label with faded letters said that this was the trophy for a long-forgotten football game which Cornell had won. In the middle of tarnished silver triumphs, the pickle jar marked another time. Football (and all other college sports) were games, not national news.” He reflected upon times when sports were played for fun, and winners good-heartedly accepted such a token of the short-lived importance of victory in a game.

Before wrapping up this column, I decided to contact our good friend Jack Brophy to see if he could enrich the package. He did! You may remember that Jack experienced a stroke two years ago, which diminished his activity level. I was happy to read his reply that his “best friend” is now the walker that compensates some lingering balance issues and is allowing him much greater latitude in his daily life.

On that happy note, I encourage all readers to take a few minutes to jot down thoughts, events, plans, and even regrets. Together we are a privileged collection of educated and experienced nonagenarians who can still learn from one another and enjoy these “dividend years” all the better. Stay dangerous, my friends! ❖ Bob Neff, JD ’56 (email Bob) | Caroline Mulford Owens (email Caroline) | Jack Brophy (email Jack) | John Nixon (email John) | Alumni Directory.

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1954

As this column is being written, Homecoming 2023 is in the rear-view mirror and we are now looking ahead to our 70th Reunion, next June 6–9, 2024. Our president, Chick Trayford, MBA ’60, attended the Class of ’53’s 70th this past June to do some scouting and persuaded Dave, PhD ’60, and Mary Gentry Call to once again serve as Reunion chairs—as they have done so well and so often in past years. They have already met with our alumni support people and are underway with their planning. The ’53 class had 10 classmates and 18 total adults attend; we hope to not only do better than that but to exceed the Class of ’52’s all-time record of 26 classmates. Because most of us are now nonagenarians, our headquarters will be at the Statler and will accommodate both classmates and caregivers who will be treated the same and be included in all events. The Statler has a large inventory of ambulatory devices available as well, so all who attend will be well cared for. Stay tuned for more info.

Speaking of the Calls, we received a news form from Bruce, MS ’55, and Ruth Malti Marion of Madison, WI, stating that they met and got to know the Calls’ grandson, Chris Andolina, who is studying for his PhD at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. On a personal note, Bruce, Ruth, and I were fellow townies. We graduated together from Ithaca High School before moving up to Cornell. In fact, Ruth and I grew up in houses next door to each other from the fourth grade onward.

Sadly, Jim Settel, our long-serving class treasurer, has resigned his post because of health issues. We will miss “good ole Jim’s” crisp financial reports and his always-corny jokes each month. Feel better, Jim. Mary Call will replace him as treasurer.

Jane Barber Smith of Poughkeepsie, NY, writes that she is still active on church committees and in local Democratic politics. Her advice to undergraduates is to read Carl Becker’s book Freedom and Responsibility in the American Way of Life. Jane underwent total hip replacement surgery this past June but reports that she should be up for our 70th next year.

Jane Gregory Wilson ’54 has logged over 1,000 days on Holland America ships.

Bernice Rotter Schmid of Mineola, NY, enjoys volunteering at the Nassau County Museum of Art, reading, and spending time with her three great-grandchildren. Her advice to undergraduates: “Be open to change.”

Elizabeth Dean Kraft of Seal Beach, CA, received an EdD degree from Columbia Teachers College after Cornell and spent many years testing children. She retired at age 82 (wow) and now devotes much of her time to working on landscaping projects at her Southern California home, which, luckily, did not suffer the fires and mudslides that damaged the northern part of the state.

Jane Gregory Wilson of Sun City Center, FL, has been a serious traveler for several years, with ocean cruising being her favorite. She has logged over 1,000 days on Holland America ships. Maybe we can convince Jane to travel back to Ithaca next June for our 70th Reunion! Jane’s favorite memory of Cornell was the big band dances on house party weekends. She recalls that her late husband, Lynn, “was a great dancer at those events.”

Betsy Hynes White of Shrewsbury, NJ, returned a brief but heartfelt response to our Class Notes mailing. Her favorite memory of Cornell tells it all: “Special friends who are still in touch—I loved every minute of our entire four years!” ❖ Bill Waters, MBA ’55 (email Bill) | Ruth Carpenter Bailey (email Ruth) | Class website | Alumni Directory.

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1955

Dick Kurtz, BS ’58, writes, “I get great satisfaction from watching our four identical, healthy 3-year-old great-grandsons grow up. I volunteer at the San Diego Automotive Museum as docent and restorer—for over 25 years now.” Sadly, Dick reports that he got COVID and as a result lost much of his memory. But he does fondly recall playing intramural sports, singing with the Glee Club and at Zinck’s, and house party weekends at Cornell!

Robert Leader has been watching his grandchildren mature, and he’s been working in law for about 20–25 hours each week. Along with traveling, in his spare time he is “addressing the various ailments that pop up.” When asked what his favorite memories of Cornell are, he writes, “Living in Sage for the first semester—easy walk to class! Also my election to Student Council chairman of Junior Weekend.”

Lately Clive Usiskin has been playing and teaching chess, and gardening in the warmer weather. “Two of my four children are Cornell alums, as well as three of my 11 grandchildren.”

David Berler, MD ’58, fondly recalls the beautiful Ithaca campus and shares that one of his granddaughters graduated from Cornell in May 2022 as a fourth-generation Cornellian.

I get great satisfaction from watching our four identical, healthy 3-year-old great-grandsons grow up.

Dick Kurtz ’55, BS ’58

Laura Weese writes, “I’ve been working on election forums here at Horizon House. Residents run the activities here. Planning programs, bringing in local speakers, etc., is a great source of satisfaction. I have two sons on different coasts!” Of her grandsons, Laura reports that one is going to the University of Vermont, one is going to the University of California, Santa Cruz, one graduated from high school, and one graduated from elementary school. Her granddaughter, age 4, recently had her first ballet recital. Laura adds, “I am enjoying many memories with monthly Zoom groups with classmates Pat McCormick Hoehing, Mimi Morack Sauer, Claire Desaix Simpson, and Nancy Taft Whitman. I’m most sad about loss of Carol “Ritt” Rittershausen Byron in June 2022. She did so much for Cornell and our class!”

Jim, MD ’59, and Mary Martin Van Buren ’56 write, “We’re doing okay, with age-related health problems preventing any traveling. Jim is still able to play golf, recently shooting 83—six strokes under his age. We enjoy our family, especially grandchildren. We often think and talk about the good old times in Ithaca.”

When asked what brings her the most satisfaction these days, Irene Adler Hirsch said, “Being alive and healthy! And being married to my wonderful husband for 68 years. One of our granddaughters is also a dermatologist from Cornell.” Irene was a teacher and guidance counselor for many years in the U.S. and Israel. Of her time at Cornell, she recalls “meeting new and interesting people who are still friends—and organizing an Israel Cornell Club and still having a few good friends from our club!” ❖ Class of 1955 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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1956

Frank Koeberle enjoys “watching the dividends grow—we currently have 26 great-grandchildren, ranging in age from 2 weeks old to nearly 20 years.” Frank is a full-time caregiver, along with a crew of helpful aides, for his wife, who has had Alzheimer’s for many years. What else has been going on? “Not much other than milking our cows, which I did for 60 years before retiring.”

Sandra Ames Kallen shared news of an exciting home project she was planning: “Three roofers, the owner of an electrical company, and someone who runs a very tall machine will return a beautifully restored cupola in beautiful colors surmounted by a wild turkey of copper with brass fittings to the highest ridge of my new roof. This has taken months to accomplish, and my Cornellian partner, Bob Boice, will help us all celebrate with whatever our hearts desire. This event is a major, major satisfaction.”

Sandra adds, “My younger brother, Robert, died recently at a V.A. facility in San Diego, CA. He was an ardent and early advocate for gay rights in NYC. He graduated from Michigan State University College of Journalism.” Sandra’s fondest memory of Cornell? “The day my high school principal called me to the office to answer a call from my mother (my father was already in the office); my mother wanted to know what she should do with ‘the letter that just arrived from Cornell.’ The next was the ‘group interview,’ when everyone was asked where else they had applied and my answer was, ‘Nowhere—this is where I want to be.’”

Roy Curtiss enjoys “the continued excitement of scientific discovery coupled with successful outcomes of research endeavors. I received research support grants from two government agencies and one pharmaceutical company this year. Thus, I am keeping very busy! I received a distinguished alumni award from my doctoral university, University of Chicago, which goes along with the outstanding alumni award I received from Cornell 14 years ago.”

Betty Oshman Stratton spent Reunion week in Ithaca with daughter Kathryn Stratton ’83, who celebrated her 40th Reunion, and grandson Brian Meersma ’18, who celebrated his 5th!

Betty Oshman Stratton ’56 spent Reunion week in Ithaca with daughter Kathryn Stratton ’83, who celebrated her 40th Reunion, and grandson Brian Meersma ’18, who celebrated his 5th!

Martha Bentel Lovell gets her greatest satisfaction these days from family and friends, and she reports that she’s been taking care of her handicapped husband. “My daughter is a health attorney for the California Hospital Association, my son is semi-retired, and my granddaughters are all doing well.” When asked about her favorite memory of Cornell, Martha said, “There are too many to choose just one.”

Lenore Brotman Greenstein stays active “playing pickleball and enjoying cultural activities. My new home in a senior living community is always exciting and keeps me young at 88! I volunteer for the work of our Jewish Foundation in Naples. I am also on the boards of the Jewish Book Festival and Women’s Cultural Alliance—programs of education, culture, and relevance to our community. I just had my fifth great-grandchild, who is named after my late husband. With nine grandchildren spread out all over the country, I look forward to their visits here in Naples. We will have a family reunion this summer in the Berkshires, my summer home.” Her favorite memories of Cornell? “Hearing my husband, Howard ’57, sing—he was a soloist in the Cornell Glee Club and cantor at our Hillel services. Howard is remembered for his warm personality and beautiful voice!”

Betsy Jennings Rutledge has been “staying home and safe” these days, in her happy peaceful home. Otherwise, she has been enjoying the addition of great-grandchildren to the family—“Imagine!”

Patricia Brodie most enjoys time spent with her children and grandchildren, and she reports that she’s been working on a memoir. She fondly recalls taking classes with Vladimir Nabokov, including “Masters of European Literature” and “Russian Literature.” She writes, “I had some wonderful profs, but Nabokov was amazing.” Orlando Turco is keeping up with Cornell wrestling.

Jane Wakely Johnson, MS ’63, is enjoying good health! She has been reading, visiting, quilting, and exercising. “I’m happy that my daughter and her family have moved to New England after living in Florida for years! I was sorry that our 65th Reunion in 2021 was virtual. I took my mother to her Cornell 65th and had hoped to go with my Cornell daughter (Class of ’85).” ❖ Class of 1956 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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1957

It was time to empty the attic of my detached garage. Among the long-forgotten board games from the 1970s, my daughter’s Barbie kitchen, and my Cherry Ames book collection, I found a small suitcase that had made many trips back and forth to Cornell. Its appropriate carnelian and white colors showed the effects of time. Inside was a treasure, a long-forgotten missive titled “Scriptorium Cornellianum,” put together late in 1958 by Sue DeRosay Henninger. When we graduated in 1957, the women had their own set of class officers (a tradition until our men and women merged into one class council), with the promise that every five years in the future the Class of 1957 would alternate the president between the two.

Sue had painstakingly collected information via postcards from most of our women and had compiled the results into 14 back-to-back single-spaced pages. Remember that she used a manual typewriter—a huge task. She found many of us had married and had started having babies, quite normal for those times. Some had begun graduate work, including Judy Richter Levy, LLB ’59, Marcia Wishengrad, JD ’60, and Eleanor Meaker Kraft, LLB ’60, all students at the Cornell Law School. Bev Robertson Murrell was in medical school in Denver, CO, while Marilyn du Vigneaud Brown, Marnie Enck Broman, MD ’61, and Connie Engelke Skov were at Cornell Medical School, and Fredda Ginsberg Fellner was at the NYU School of Medicine. Many of our women were teaching while their husbands were medical students, law students, obtaining other advanced degree students, or fulfilling their military obligations.

In a total graduating class of 2,317, we women numbered 680. We had elected the following women to lead us forward: president Jane Mitchell Lizars, VP Jan Nelson Cole, treasurer Ann Phillips Drechsel, secretary Sue DeRosay Henninger, Alumni News correspondent Diane Heasley Van Dyke, and Reunion chairman Judith Tischler Rogers. Our first Reunion was then called the “Baby Reunion” and was held in 1960. The women’s share of the 1957 treasury was $1,780.24. At our 65th Reunion, our class treasury was over $70,000 and our Class of 1957 lifetime’s giving exceeded $134 million. Quite a contrast!

You may recall that as freshman women, we were assigned to Risley, Dickson 5, and Dickson 6. Beyond Dickson were empty fields until the observatory stood far in the distance. We women were able to establish friendships throughout our three dorms, continuing many of those friendships to this very day. An example follows.

We women were able to establish friendships throughout our three dorms, continuing many of those friendships to this very day.

Connie Santagato Hosterman ’57

A note from Judith Tischler Rogers relates how greatly she enjoyed our 65th Reunion when she renewed friendships with Judy Richter Levy and Nancy Krauthamer Goldberg. In March 2023, Judith was in NYC and met Judy, Nancy, and Margo Canton Berger for lunch at the Bryant Park Grill followed by a visit to the main NYC library. Margo had been Judith’s senior year roommate and in 1958 her bridesmaid. Judith then stayed two nights with Margo where Margo now lives, Kendal on Hudson in Sleepy Hollow, NY. The two women hadn’t seen each other in 40 years, so imagine their interesting conversations. Nancy also let me know about their memorable lunch and visit to the library. She made a special trip from Ithaca for their outing.

Mabel Klisch Deal also enjoyed our 65th Reunion. Now she describes herself as “still kicking, keeping on the move, and sticking with whatever comes my way!” After graduating from Cornell, Mabel began her career as a teacher in grades 7–12 in the Geneva City School District. Her late husband, Gerald, was also a teacher. Together they raised four children. The children went off to various colleges and now have scattered throughout the country. Mabel has a tradition of being with many family members for the holidays. The 2023 scheduled gatherings were Thanksgiving in Hilton Head Island, SC, and Christmas in Springfield, VA. Her family of four has expanded to include eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild, with another due soon. She has attended many weddings and graduations. Mabel remains grateful for growing up in much different times. We all can recall the rationing of gasoline, sugar, meat, etc., during World War II. She also remembers gathering milkweed pods, which would later be used as life vest fillers for the military personnel. She said she never felt deprived because everyone was having the same experience. She sees the pendulum as having swung far from that era and wonders if sometime in the future it will begin its return journey.

We women might have had it easier to maintain our lifelong friendships because there were fewer of us (that famous 4-to-1 ratio). On the other hand, the men developed their friendships though fraternities, sports, and other activities. The Alpha Chi Rho men are one group of fraternity brothers who demonstrate this. Five brothers attended and really celebrated our last Reunion, namely Rick Abell, Bob Camp ’58, MBA ’60, Paul Garrett, Stu MacKay, and Bob Martin. They stay in touch with Gil Riley, BME ’59, who did not attend the Reunion. Likely there are other stories like this our classmates might share.

Now a “housekeeping” message. I find myself wanting to speak with many of you who send in messages for Class Notes. I especially am interested in knowing your path since our Cornell graduation to our current space in time. The old-fashioned telephone conversations that I’ve already had have been enjoyable and enlightening. You will know who is calling because my name will pop up in your caller ID. ❖ Connie Santagato Hosterman (email Connie) | Alumni Directory.

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1958

As I promised in my last column, published in the September / October Class Notes, here are some meaty meal conservations that were had at Reunion. Dick Merritt is grateful for Cornell’s generosity allowing him to reduce his fees by transferring from Arts and Sciences to Agriculture when his father’s business in Connecticut was destroyed by a hurricane. George Ubogy recently gave a class about how classical music expresses emotion to the Retired Men’s Association of Greenwich, CT. Meyer and Karen Gross reminisced about the extreme misogyny Karen experienced in law school. Meyer says “she became the best breadwinner” in their law firm. Sweet revenge!

Twice widowed, Louesa Merrill Gillespie is still running the family inn in Ogunquit, ME. Carol Boeckle Welch was a caregiver for her husband during his Alzheimer’s disease. Her volunteer work as class VP sustained her spirits. After raising two sons and a daughter, Barbara Collier Delany has returned to sculpture. She and Harry recently moved to D.C. to be near their daughter—and art museums! More conversations from Reunion in a future column.

Ann MacLeod Cashen lives in Kimball Farms, a retirement community in Lenox, MA. She retired as a database manager for Mamiya America, importer of professional photography equipment, and “a great place to work.” Ann is enjoying “relatively good health” and likes Kimball Farms, where the residents, mostly from New York, participate in activities and are great company. She started a book club that reads both classics and recent publications, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night, and A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell. Ann volunteers to organize their library, where she sees new books immediately!

Ann enjoys the cultural activities of the Berkshires, such as Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, for which she receives discounted lawn passes, and the Berkshire Symphony with Williams College students and faculty. She plans day trips to local sights, like the Clark Art Institute and Norman Rockwell Museum, which has a collection of his Saturday Evening Post covers, and Gilded Age mansions, such as the homes of Edith Wharton and Daniel Chester French, the sculptor of the Lincoln Memorial.

Ann’s three adult daughters, Annie, Sara, and Linda ’86, with whom she travels with grandchildren, live nearby in New York State. Her favorite memories of Cornell are the diversity of its foreign students and her senior year when she met her future husband and “stretched” her education beyond her psychology major, studying art history, literature, and music appreciation. Her favorite professors were novelist Vladimir Nabokov and Fitzgerald scholar Arthur Mizener.

Barbara Collier Delany ’58 and Harry recently moved to D.C. to be near their daughter—and art museums!

Herb Hess has retired from 50+ years in investment management and is now spending time with his family, traveling, and playing golf near their homes in Hingham, MA, and Naples, FL. He also enjoys reading; recently, for example, for those interested in technology, Chip War: The Quest to Dominate the World’s Most Critical Technology by Chris Miller, and, for those interested in faith from a Black person’s perspective, Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope by Esau McCaulley.

Herb derives enormous satisfaction from traveling with his wife, BJ, and often with one or more of his 10 grandchildren. Recently he and BJ took a biking and hiking trip to Corsica and Sardinia with their granddaughter Katie. Herb has been mentoring high school students Ricardy and Alexis in Immokalee, an immigrant farm community near Naples. He also mentors men going through career transitions. His personal faith in Jesus has been foundational in his life and volunteer activities. Herb’s favorite memories of Cornell are playing varsity lacrosse and serving on the men’s judiciary board, which heard students’ conduct cases and adjudicated them, but with the final decisions on penalties, if any, left up to the administration.

Pat Bradfield Tillis in clinical psychology, retired from a long career teaching in four departments (psychology, social work, child development and family relationships, and health sciences) at Ohio University in Athens, OH, from 1963 to 2007. During a decade of semi-retirement, she taught part time for six months and lived on her catamaran in the Eastern Caribbean, then moved to a farm to grow organic blueberries. She was a “snowbird” between farm and boat, and later between farm and condo on a canal in Cape Coral, FL.

Just before COVID, Pat sold the condo and moved into Gulf Coast Village, a continuing care community in Cape Coral. She has no regrets about moving there, where she received excellent care. She benefited from a social network—masked residents enjoyed many socially spaced exercise classes, card games, lectures, and dinners. Pat plays “slow tennis” three times weekly with her aging doubles group. She also plays “old time fiddle” with the Southwest Florida Fiddlers. She writes, plays a little piano or violin, practices yoga, and reads in her apartment. Her book club’s selection is The Book of Form and Emptiness, a novel by Ruth Ozeki. She hopes to finish a memoir and has organized a writers’ support group to ensure weekly progress.

Pat makes annual auto trips to visit her son, Dave Baasel, in Myrtle Beach, SC, and her daughter, Nancy Baasel, in Athens, OH, with whom she has camped at many national parks. Pat’s favorite Ithaca memories are: walking across Triphammer Bridge twice a day, watching the waterfalls, and hiking the gorges at Cascadilla, Buttermilk, and Enfield. Her favorite memories of Cornell are the social events with her sorority, Chi Gamma, and their parties with Theta Chi. ❖ Barbara Avery, MA ’59 (email Barbara) | Dick Haggard (email Dick) | Alumni Directory.

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1959

A tremendous and well-deserved honor: At an awards ceremony in October, Bill Day and Bill Kingston received the 2023 Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award for their extraordinary service to Cornell through long-term volunteer activities.

Bill Day credits all his Cornell volunteer efforts as a tribute to his wife, Sue (Phelps) ’60, MEd ’62, who was named in the inaugural group of the Rhodes award recipients in 1995. Bill has been a key part of our class, as an Annual Fund representative, encouraging giving among classmates, and as a member of our class council, identifying affinity groups. He is a life member of the Cornell University Council and is also part of the Cayuga Society and the Tower Club. He has been involved with the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network (CAAAN) for many decades; when he and Sue lived in Connecticut, they hosted yearly send-offs for local students on behalf of the Cornell Club of Greater Hartford. “I want to do whatever I can to help ensure that Cornell can bring to the lives of its future students the same joy and richness that it brought to mine,” he said.

“It is a great honor, and being a longtime fan of Frank Rhodes makes it doubly sweet,” says Bill Kingston. He’s the member of our class council currently overseeing the financial aspects of our upcoming Reunion and has had a long involvement with the Cornell National Scholars program as well as with CAAAN. Indeed, he credits his own conversations with alumni as the linchpin in his decision to attend Cornell over other top programs. He met with alumni of many of the colleges that accepted him, and the alumni of other schools spoke of the quality of their education and what it meant for their careers, but they didn’t have a lot of good to say about the college experience itself. “When I met with Cornell alumni, they thought not only was it a great engineering education, but they also raved about the experience they had. It really meant something to them.” In 2017, Bill received the Cornell Rowing Association Annual Fund Award for his long-term support of crew. More recently, he originated the idea of a virtual rowing simulator to aid in training, and he has sponsored an ongoing project that uses a helmet-mounted 3D camera to take video from the rower’s perspective while the crew is on the water.

Carl Leubsdorf and his wife, Susan Page, have sold their 200-year-old Georgetown, Washington, DC, home of 38 years and moved to a 12th-floor apartment at the Watergate, which he describes as having “a great view and no steps.” He still writes a weekly column between going to ball games, and Susan has just finished her third book, a biography of Barbara Walters titled The Rulebreaker, which Simon & Schuster is publishing in April.

I learned that Andrew Dickson White insisted in 1862 that there be a library on campus. Today, our library system is among the best in the country.

Harry Petchesky ’59

Laurie Bloch Schwartz and Harry Petchesky had a chance to chat at the Cornell Club of the Berkshires annual meeting last summer. “The featured speaker was Elaine Westbrooks, Cornell’s new head librarian,” reports Harry. “Among other things, I learned that Andrew Dickson White, in his early planning, insisted in 1862 that there be a library on campus. Today, our library system is among the best in the country.”

And you can access it! Information about resources available to alumni can be found at this link. Through this website, you’ll find access to scholarly journal articles and databases, archives of the Cornell Daily Sun and Ezra Cornell’s papers, links to treasures from the library’s special collections, online exhibits, webinars, and updates on library events. Magdalena Kalinka Bartishevich, Executive Director, Alumni Affairs, notes that “through this link, you can find the ‘Alumni Ask a Librarian’ form, which many alumni find to be very helpful.” She also notes that alumni living in the Ithaca area have access to the materials on campus as well.

I recently took a cocktail hour journey down memory lane looking up Class of ’59 and our Reunions in the Cornell Daily Sun digital archives. “1959” brought up advertisements from Lent’s Music Store, Plaza Liquor Store, and others congratulating our class, and a list of the 1,405 seniors receiving degrees at the 91st annual Commencement exercises. “1964” showed La Mandragola (“The Greatest Italian Comedy of the Renaissance”) on stage at Barnes Hall. “I didn’t see it, but I still have the pit helmet that was given to attendees at our 5th Reunion,” reveals Ellie Applewhaite, who has attended every one of our Reunions.

Another way to access Cornell library is via this link, where other services such as “find a classmate” and “get your transcripts” are also available. One thing you don’t have to go through the University to do: email your news directly to me! My deadline for the May/June issue (just in time for Reunion) is February 15.

Going offline, I referred to paper copies of class columns from alumni magazines of yore. As at all Reunions, there were a wide range of activities, from the social to the serious: 20th Reunion: a class cocktail party and buffet dinner at Chi Psi, with a disc jockey playing music from the ’50s and ’70s. 25th: the Dave & Harry Show (Dunlop and Petchesky), attended by a record-shattering 425 classmates. 40th: a class survey found that 92% of respondents considered themselves successful in their occupations and 7% had used Viagra. 55th: class gift to Cornell totaling more than $11.1 million. 60th: with 168 classmates in attendance—insightful discussions by Rolf Barth, Paddy Hurley, and other classmates who continue to make significant contributions to our society. ❖ Jenny Tesar (email Jenny) | Alumni Directory.

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1960

Susan Phelps Day, MEd ’62, our class president, now resettled in Alameda, CA, has been doing volunteer work for the Class of 1960, for the Arlington Community Church, and for the Berkeley Garden Club. Her favorite memory of time at Cornell is having met people who became lifelong friends. Reporting from Seattle, Merrill Burr Hille remembers how she long ago enjoyed her work and her research in the chemistry department. “I have now finished and published my laboratory research in early zebrafish development and am closing my lab. During the past few years, my husband, Bertil, and I have enjoyed hiking through the mountains in various countries, including most recently the Dolomites in Northern Italy.” She is also pleased to note that she and Bertil now have four grandchildren whose ages range from 23 to 4.

Alan Fishman reports that he continues his regular activities, which include a variety of sports, attending lifelong learning classes at Florida Atlantic University, and participating in discussions at a book club. He has also made a significant change in his life: “In March I sold my home in East Pointe Country Club and moved with my wife, Claire, to La Posada, a senior living community in Palm Beach. My life now includes no home maintenance, no more cooking, and meeting wonderful residents. My favorite memories of Cornell are studying in the College of Architecture, Art & Planning, along with great classmates. What now brings me the most satisfaction is being retired.”

Ron Pereira (Monroe, NC), still working on a third book and doing research in neuroscience, took time out to reflect on his favorite memory of his time in Ithaca. “While I was at Cornell, my life was frenzied, because I was trying to make enough money to pay my bills, as the Cuban economy was eroding from the impact of the Castro revolution. I remember graduating in June 1960 and thinking, ‘Thank God I made it. I was able to pay all the bills!’ My Cornell experience meant a lot to me. I am now trying to keep up with all my Delta Upsilon friends and other classmates. My wife, Karin, and I have five children and nine grandchildren, and thankfully all are well.”

Raoul Sudre ’60 continues to travel hundreds of miles each year, serving internationally as a teacher and consultant focused on tourism development.

Back in the spring, Raoul Sudre (Pompano Beach, FL) wrote that what brings him the most satisfaction these days is “still being alive! LOL!” He continues to travel hundreds of miles each year, serving internationally as a teacher and consultant focused on tourism development, particularly wellness and well-being issues. Raoul says his favorite memory of college is his nomination to Cornell’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

Now mostly recovered from a serious heart attack a few years ago, John Charles Smith (Far Hills, NJ) is glad to be working again as a landscape architect. He says he now experiences much satisfaction from “making new friends, staying alive and healthy, and working in my vegetable garden, as well as watching three grandchildren grow up: two boys and a girl.” John’s favorite memory of his time at Cornell was, he says, “singing with the Cayuga’s Waiters.” In late October, class officer Bill Flanagan wrote from Colonial Heights, VA, “I have some sad news to pass on—my soulmate for 60 years, my wife, Diane, passed away on September 26 at VCU Medical Center in Richmond. I was grateful that I was there holding her hand as she passed from this life to the next one. All four of our children were there with me.”

Send your news to: ❖ Judy Bryant Wittenberg (email Judy) | Alumni Directory.

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1961

Thank you ’61 classmates for sending in news of your lives and families. Starting out from Rye, NY, Ernie Feleppa sends the following: “I’m spending time consulting for Massachusetts General and Mass General Brigham hospitals in Boston on projects involving advanced biomedical-ultrasound technology. I’m also serving as editor-in-chief of Ultrasonic Imaging, a technical journal. For leisure time we enjoy trips to the Caribbean islands and trips to interesting B&Bs as well as gardening.” At Cornell Ernie enjoyed springtime walks around Beebe Lake and searching for fossils in the gorges.

Jeffrey Fisher is living in Manhattan and cites good health and playing golf and tennis (is there a correlation?). His seasons include wintering at Frenchman’s Creek in Palm Beach Gardens, summers in East Hampton, and NYC for the spring and fall. At Cornell he enjoyed bridge in the Ivy Room and socializing at the fraternity house. He says life is good.

A note came from Mehdy Douraghy in Chicago. His favorite memory of Cornell: “It was a new way of studying subjects that I like.” Mehdy is still studying with a focus on Persia and indulging in foreign travel.

Jack Richards ’60 and I were married at Anabel Taylor one week before graduation. We celebrate 62 years in June.

Pat Laux Richards ’61

Pat Laux Richards writes, “Jack ’60 and I are both blessed with good health and still able to spend a few months in Florida each winter. I remain connected to Cornell and will co-chair our next reunion with Rosanna Romanelli Frank. We live in a retirement community in Pennsylvania, Willow Valley. It is an all-encompassing place. I’ve been volunteering on a committee to build a state-of-the-art memory care center and helping at religious services. Also playing golf, but not well. Our granddaughter Annie Rogers ’23 graduated from Arts & Sciences last May. We were all there to cheer her on. Jack and I were married June 3 at Anabel Taylor, one week before graduation. We celebrate 62 years in June.” (Good show!)

From Churchville, PA, George Ekstrom writes, “I’m following grandchildren in sports and school activities, playing occasional golf with former co-workers, and meeting with friends and relatives. I’m active in church and lead AARP volunteer tax preparers at three sites from February through April.” At Cornell he remembers playing football, running track, and living with people from all parts of the U.S. “I received a doctoral fellowship, which I used at Purdue University—agricultural and biological engineering.” ❖ Susan Williams Stevens (email Susan) | Doug Fuss (email Doug) | Alumni Directory.

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1962

From John Abel (Cornell professor emeritus of civil and environmental engineering who is still living in his lovely lakefront home on Cayuga Lake) comes great news for the class. “On a beautiful autumn Ithaca day, I was on campus for an errand and decided to trek further east along Ellis Hollow Road to see the new baseball facility. I had passed by in mid-August, but it was still in the final stages of construction and no scoreboard was evident. However, today the facility was entirely completed and was in use for fall practice by the baseball team. It is a beautiful field but rather isolated and distant from campus. Not sure if many in the Cornell community will ever see it and appreciate the Class of 1962 scoreboard, now successfully moved from Hoy Field on campus to Booth Field.” He also sent along a photo of the new scoreboard, which you can see in the October Classmate News on our website.

Greetings from Helen Chuckrow, MA ’66 (Ossining, NY), who related a few Big Red memories. “My junior year I lived in the Circle Cottages. They’ve long been torn down but still linger in my memory. I was in Circle 3, so there must have been at least three of them. They were white clapboard houses three stories high. My room had a built-in bookcase and a fire escape, as well as a nice-sized closet. It was small and narrow but cozy. It had a large adjoining bathroom with a tub and had a door leading to a large room that Judy Abrahms ’61 occupied. In good weather, she and I studied on the fire escape. There were two or three other rooms on the floor and a smallish entranceway on the ground floor. We ate at the Sage Hall dining room.” Now retired, Helen tutors children, preparing them for their bar or bat mitzvah. She is almost finished writing a book titled Interpreting the Bible with Chutzpah.

From Cathy Van Buren Bomberger (Dune Acres, IN): “I enjoyed celebrating three graduations last summer. I traveled to Atlanta, where my grandson was graduated from Emory University, followed by a trip to Arlington, VA, for my granddaughter’s high school graduation. She is now settled in at the University of Tennessee. My grandson from Chicago finished his Montessori education to be accepted at Walter Payton College Prep High School. Family fun and support are priceless.”

On a beautiful autumn Ithaca day, I was on campus for an errand and decided to trek further east along Ellis Hollow Road to see the new baseball facility.

John Abel ’62

DeeDee McCoy Stovel (San Carlos, CA) writes that she still likes to hike, garden, be in nature, cook, and be with family and friends. Whew! “During COVID, Larrie Dockerill Rockwell, Katie Simmons Kaufman, Sonnie Rudgers Dunne, BS ’61, and I Zoomed monthly. Sonnie unfortunately died within the last year, but those conversations helped us get through those years.”

Peter Wadsworth, BME ’64, MBA ’65 (Norwood, MA) reports: “After several years of retirement on the East End of Long Island (East Hampton) during which I became very involved in local politics and community affairs, in 2016 I moved back to the Boston area and rededicated myself to healthcare, now from the consumer and policy perspective, with the publication of a book titled Finding the Best Healthcare You Can Afford. After several articles on quality measurement and related topics, I helped found the Better Healthcare Policy Group, which includes the former head of Kaiser Permanente HMO, a couple of distinguished professors at UC Berkeley, and other nationally known (except for me) figures. This summer we published a white paper, ‘The Better Care Plan: a blueprint for improving America’s healthcare system’ (Health Affairs Scholar, Volume 1, Issue 1, July 2023). Now the real work begins.”

Wondering why the news you submitted to Cornell months ago is just showing up in this column now? It’s because the material you are reading in this January/February issue had to be to the editor by October 15, and sometimes entries are held over until the next deadline due to the maximum word count of each column.

That said, check out our class website, where you will find entries posted in their entirety in our “Classmate News” section. And we love to post your photos, so send them along too. They will shine on our website.

Still confused about where to send your news/memories/thoughts/memorabilia? Not to worry. Everything you send along to Cornell is first passed on to the Cornellians editor and then redirected to us. Anything we receive directly is, in turn, forwarded to the publication.

Hope you’re having a good winter and an even better 2024! ❖ Judy Prenske Rich (email Judy) | Alumni Directory.

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1963

Here is a message from your class Reunion gift co-chairs, Ed Butler, MS ’65, and Carol Bagdasarian Aslanian: “We want to report on our class Reunion gift project to support student mental health—to update three important but outdated videos. The first (current students talking about their own experiences transitioning to college, including being pro-active in seeking help) was completed and shown to new students during August orientation. Two other videos—one to train student leaders to recognize and respond to signs of excessive stress and one to do the same for faculty—are in progress. Our project goal was $75,000 and more than $83,000 was raised. Funding came from more than 110 classmate donations and the remaining $25,000 came from our class treasury. Supporting student mental health (a Cornell priority, as it is nationwide) as a Reunion project resonated with our class. It continued our tradition of focusing our class Reunion gifts on students. Thanks to all our donors!”

Cynthia Raymond writes, “I am mastering my Apple devices, enjoying friends and family, and enjoying the recovery of New York City after the pandemic with lots of theater. I am watching my grandnieces growing up. My favorite memory of my time at Cornell is friends and the beauty of the Finger Lakes region and campus—not to mention stimulating classes and cultural events. I’m still enjoying friendships with Judy Kross, Debra Willen Stern, and Marsha Wineburgh.”

Dean Williams writes from La Canada, CA, that his wife, Mary, passed away in April 2022. “Son Burt lives in Upper Arlington, OH, is an Ohio State graduate, and works for International Harvester. I enjoyed several Viking River Cruises and have traveled to Italy, Paris, Denmark, and Egypt. My favorite memories of my time at Cornell after I transferred from the Ohio State University are graduating, my great roommate, milk punch parties, being a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, the best professors in the U.S., and the great experience of being chairman of the queen’s committee, which built a float for a parade (Ruth Ann Zimmerman was queen). I am enjoying sunny California but am lonely since my wife died and kids are in North Carolina, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.”

I am enjoying the recovery of New York City after the pandemic with lots of theater.

Cynthia Raymond ’63

Nancy Dean Nowak lives in Hingham, MA. Karen Randlev writes from Williamsport, MD, “Recently my archive of poetry prose and photos was acquired by the State Library of Alaska/Fairbanks. My time in Alaska was particularly rich for me, so I am delighted my work is now available for researchers and other interested parties. I am also happy to report my son, R.H. Donnelly III (Haverford ’86, University of Santa Cruz ’93), has joined the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, RI, as professor in the war games department. A great honor for him. I have a burgeoning hobby of writing and have published Letters to the Editor, most recently in the Washington Post. My favorite memory of my time at Cornell was listening to all the singing groups perform.”

We have heard the news that the print digest version of Cornellians will not be continuing beyond its first year (four issues). According to my editor, despite wide promotion of the digest, there were not enough subscriptions to support the endeavor. Happily, though, the publication continues to thrive online, where all of the content is free of charge for everyone. Please send in your news. ❖ Nancy Bierds Icke (email Nancy) | 12350 E. Roger Rd., Tucson, AZ 85749 | Alumni Directory.

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1964

Happy New Year! And please note that it’s just six months until our 60th Reunion, so if you are yet to make plans, please get going. Meantime, here’s some news.

Barbara Jampel is the heralded writer-director of award-willing National Geographic documentaries and myriad other nature-oriented films you may have seen over the years. She lives in Burbank, CA. Eric Frankel was last in this column 27 years ago. He and wife Donna (Lucas), MNS ’70, have retired to Gig Harbor, WA.

Richard Church, last here six years ago, says he and wife Joyce (Payne) usually live in Freeville, NY, but last year spent from mid-November to mid-April in Sun City Center, FL. He notes a big family event was seeing their grandson Joshua ’23 graduating from Cornell’s colleges of engineering and computer sciences; he already had a job awaiting him with Microsoft in Redmond, WA, thanks to an internship there last summer.

Alice Schwartz Tobias, PhD ’67, last here in 2020, proudly writes that theirs is a wholly Cornell family, noting that both of husband Gerald ’60, DVM ’62’s grandfathers were Cornellians, and that a grandson, Noah Freedman ’26, recently completed his first year at Cornell. Alice enjoys all manner of outdoor activities: hiking, walking, and exploring. Indoors, she likes to eat, read, and play bridge, which she also enjoyed at Cornell—during finals, no less. Overall, Alice relishes numerous outdoor activities, all of which COVID curtailed, but new travel is promised soon from her home in Scottsdale, AZ.

Richard Berman, last here in 2020, is still working as a senior U.S. District Court judge, mostly court-involved supervised release cases. Richard and wife Elizabeth live in NYC. He otherwise enjoys golf, and they visited Paris in October 2022.

Dennis Sweeney, last here a year ago, lives in Greensboro, NC. He reports that he has had health problems lately, so is in physical rehabilitation, but he hopes to be home “in a couple of weeks.” Dennis also noted that his son and daughter spent Thanksgiving 2022 with him.

Peter Stauder, in this column just last March, writes he recently finished his second year hosting a monthly special interest group on Irish genealogy. Peter otherwise hopes to meet two new great-grandchildren soon and notes, “Life is great!”

Barbara Jampel ’64 is a heralded writer-director of award-willing National Geographic documentaries.

Lynn Friedhoff Feigenbaum, BA ’09, here just last May, writes that she has moved from her “beloved” Virginia Beach home to a Norfolk continuing care retirement community called Harbor’s Edge, which she says has gorgeous views. Lynn also writes that she has finally given up a half-century of journalism and has even given up watching TV news and now plays “a lotta bridge!” Lynn otherwise notes, “I’m doing some writing. I have trouble walking so I don’t travel much. Family nearby includes five grandchildren, one still in college.” She concludes, “Everyone’s getting older, especially (sigh) me.”

Elaine Emling, MA ’69, MRP ’83, was also here just last May. She cites “three smart and lively grands, two nieces, and a nephew,” who are doing very well academically. Elaine and husband Mike live in Silver Spring, MD, and had planned to celebrate Thanksgiving in North Carolina with another Cornell grad and her husband.

Brian Wruble, ME ’66, is seen here frequently, this time to announce that he retired in 2019. He also took his oldest child and her family on an Alaskan cruise last summer. Brian and wife Kathleen live in Key West, FL.

Burns Roensch writes that his work continues at CerFlux, a Birmingham, AL, enterprise dedicated to curing any and all forms of cancer. Burns notes, “Our quest is to match cancer treatments to solid cancer tumors. Cancer is unique to each person, even though it may have the same name.” He then details, “Our device takes the patient’s actual biopsy and tests every known drug treatment on his or her tumor and reports to the doctor what worked and what failed. We have begun actual human testing and hope to have the statistical validation necessary to offer our services to the medical world by year end or early 2024.” He concludes, “Lots going on right now with a slow process—high risk, big potential benefit, and a goal of greatly improving treatment of the cancers we are working on.” Burns lives in Sterrett, AL.

Charles Oliver is retired but still splits his time between Lehigh Acres, FL, his winter abode, and his farm machinery business back in New York, now overseen by his two sons.

Andre Vanderzanden retired from his pediatric practice eight years ago and is now a timber (white pine) and hay farmer, which may explain his principal Cornell activity: open land preservation. Andre otherwise is into playing piano and reading. Recent travel has included Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, Patagonia, and Texas. When he ever gets home, it’s to Rochester, NH, with wife Edwinna.

Barbara Cade Pringle, MA ’68, catches us up: “Over the years since retirement in 2003, I have written a family biography with my husband, Bob, PhD ’67. During his assignments as a Foreign Service officer in Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea, and West and South Africa, we had many experiences worth remembering. In the U.S., I was for a time the collections manager for the mostly volunteer-run Bead Museum in Washington, DC. A collection, exhibited then in a ‘Bead Timeline of History,’ has been donated to the Peabody Museum at Yale University. Various charity activities, both in Alexandria, VA, where we live and through Alexandria’s Christ Church, to aid Mengo Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, have kept me busy.”

That’s it for now. On behalf of our class officers, we hope to see you at our 60th Reunion on Cornell’s campus in early June 2024. As for your news, please keep it 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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Barbara Press Turner (Hobe Sound, FL) relates: “To celebrate our 80th birthdays this year, Bill and I took our entire family on a trip to Italy. We spent four days in Rome and a week at a villa in Tuscany. There were 23 of us including our five children, spouses, and 11 grandchildren ranging from age 7 to 23. It was wonderful to have the whole family together enjoying each other, great scenery, and activities. The large swimming pool at the villa and the truffle hunt were the favorites!

“We sold our company, EduSystems (which exported training equipment to engineering schools in developing countries), in 2002 but continue advising a small publishing company, which we started in 1997. Retirement and a flexible schedule are so liberating! We spend summers in Fontana, WI, where we lived full time since 1975, but now spend eight months in Hobe Sound, FL, escaping winter. I look forward to attending the 60th Reunion in 2025.”

Joan Hens Johnson (Andover, MA) was accepted to and attended a seven-week summer immersion language program at Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT. She relates: “I was in the French language section of the many languages offered during the summer. My focus was to improve my French and we had to sign a pledge to speak no English for the entire program! That was difficult. I was the oldest person of the 200 students in the French program! Other seniors were 73, 75, and 78.”

Joan and the fellow senior participants were interviewed by the Middlebury Independent weekly newspaper; here is some of the resulting article that appeared in late August: “A successful businesswoman and Cornell grad, Johnson is no stranger to hard work; however, she found it challenging. Johnson, who entered the program at intermediate 2.5, was determined to achieve fluency. However, that did not quite happen, although she did make marked improvements in reading and speaking. She commented that she is a 15-year participant in the Harvard Aging Brain Study and Harvard acknowledges that aging brains aren’t as quick as they used to be. Even her five classmates in their 20s noted that they felt the educational pace was too fast: it was difficult to absorb the material when each day featured a firehose of reading/discussion/written assignments and grammar. Plus about four hours of homework!”

To celebrate our 80th birthdays this year, Bill and I took our entire family on a trip to Italy. There were 23 of us.

Barbara Press Turner ’65

Joan insists that the rigor of studying was worthwhile, and the overall experience was a noteworthy summer “vacation.” She notes that Middlebury is a quintessential Vermont town and walking about the farmer’s market and shopping streets provided some easy relaxed hours away from the academics. She promises: “I will continue studying with a tutor in Andover and participate in the senior center intermediate French cercle each week. On y va, which means, Here we go!”

Judith Russell Davidson sent in a sad note saying that Brigitte de Saint Phalle, who was her roommate their senior year in Balch, died in Socorro, NM, in May 2023.

Please keep in mind that our 60th Reunion class gift involves support for the development of a well-being program under the auspices of the Skorton Center. This is a significant development for the promotion of mental health throughout the Cornell community. Our Class Gift Reunion Committee, under the leadership of Jeff Kass, has been busy in collaboration with Julie Edwards, director of the Skorton Center—and a pilot project is already underway and some of our classmates have contributed financially. The program is training and engaging coaches who are experienced, sensitive members of the Cornell community, and not themselves professional psychologists. We believe that in their “layperson” role, the coaches will prove to be a great support for Cornell students and staff. You will hear more about this class gift project in the coming months from class officials, and we look forward to broad support from our classmates.

Please keep the news coming to us. Remember that people love to hear about your doings, via our column. ❖ Stephen Appell (email Stephen) | Joan Hens Johnson (email Joan) | Alumni Directory.

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1966

As I write, fall is upon us and leaves are turning. Classmates report on continuing careers, retirement activities, and family connections. Peter Freeman and his wife enjoyed seeing Roy Grimm and wife Michelle last spring. They had dinner at O’Malley’s, overlooking Cayuga Lake. Peter reports that his daughter Victoria was married to Cory Ladd in October 2022. Allan Rubenstein is semi-retired from NYU Medical and is busy advising three medical device/biotech companies and Tufts University (where he got his MD). He lives in Millbrook, NY, and Manhattan. He travels to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, in the summer and in winter to Antigua, Guatemala—both UNESCO-designated historic places.

John Shaffer, ME ’67, has been retired for more than a decade and is enjoying friends and family. He is a Habitat for Humanity work-crew volunteer. He now has time to enjoy cycling in the foothills and plains of Colorado. He never imagined being fortunate enough to spend time in their homes in Longmont, CO, and Del Mar, CA. The Shaffers have traveled to Costa Rica and now look forward to planning college visits in the East (Cornell included) for their grandchildren in the summer. Josh Breier is a neuropsychologist in Houston, TX. He now has time to enjoy music. He never imagined, in 1966, that he would someday be playing with his grandchildren. Josh and his wife have traveled to San Francisco, Northern California, New York, Cape Cod, and Montreal. Family activities include dinner with their kids and grandkids and babysitting.

Laura Bowman Gray, MAT ’67, still loves her work as a professor of developmental psychology in Los Angeles. She was recently elected to the advisory board of Cornell’s Adult University and also serves on the University Council. She lives on the beach in Santa Monica, CA, and also on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She never imagined being a college professor and counselor, as she wanted to be a journalist while we were on the Hill. She did work in publishing for 12 years in NYC. She has a grandson in college in England for a semester and a granddaughter who is a junior in high school in NYC.

Pete Meyer, ME ’67, reports that, after 25 years as a trustee of the Land Conservancy of New Jersey, he is now trustee emeritus. His recent focus is to increase minority participation in the Land Conservancy to better reflect the population of New Jersey.

Pete Meyer ’66, ME ’67, reports that, after 25 years as a trustee of the Land Conservancy of New Jersey, he is now trustee emeritus.

Anne Ryder Hobbs, MA ’69, writes from Ithaca that she is a 25-year volunteer at the Friends of the Library Book Sale, sorting trade paperback fiction. She has not traveled recently because of hip replacement surgery. Her daughter Jen and granddaughters Cora, 9, and Elisa, 6, visited for two wonderful weeks this past August. Les McCarthy writes that he and his wife, Elaine, recently participated in a walk to cure ALS in memory of classmate Lowell Smith, who died in 2005.

Mary Gilbert Andrews, ME ’68, recently relocated to the northern Bay Area in California after spending 12 years on Maui. She left one week after the fire. A year before, she lost her husband to cancer and was ready for a change. She chose a location where she had family and many cultural activities. She would love to hear from Cornell friends, especially those in California. After being retired for 10 years, she plans to return to teaching college-level math at one of the nearby colleges. Mary chose to move to a very active 55+ community and is really enjoying the activities. She is involved in supporting a local symphony, exercising four to five days a week, dining with friends, attending concerts, and also hearing lectures on the environment, health, religion, etc. Her favorite Cornell activity was getting together with classmates to study, meet at the library, and have fun!

Mark Litman reports that, at age 75, he took on his first litigation as lead council on a RICO, fraud, and theft of intellectual property case. It was so interesting, he wrote a novel about it. While it was being edited, he wrote two more novels—and all three were published and are available on Amazon Kindle and online through Barnes & Noble. A resident at his Midwest condo told him, “Anyone can publish these days.” Mark retorted, “But first you have to write the books and be willing to put your name next to the titles without fear of embarrassment.” End of conversation. All three titles begin with Passion, with subtitles Pit to Precipice, Journey then Judgement, and fLAW and fLAME. He has three more in the works. Mark still practices intellectual property law part time, but writing has become more fun.

Charles and Marie Schaefer moved to Monterey, CA (on the Monterey Peninsula), two years ago and love it, especially the ocean air and the many community activities. They would love to meet other Cornellians in the area and form a Cornell group. ❖ Susan Rockford Bittker (email Susan) | Pete Salinger, MBA ’68 (email Pete) | Alumni Directory.

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1967

Rita Siegel Freedman and Joel ’66 live in Silver Spring, MD. “I’m retired from the American Federation of Teachers,” writes Rita, “and Joel is retired from the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. Having both graduated from ILR, we spent the bulk of our careers in the labor movement. This past fall, we had a mini-reunion with Joel’s Cornell roommate, Arnie Berger ’66, PhD ’71, and his partner, Sharon Goldberg, when they visited Maryland. Arnie continues to teach in the engineering department at the University of Washington. We all spent a three-hour lunch reminiscing about our time at Cornell, catching up on family, and talking about what’s going on in the U.S. and around the world.”

By now, you’ve doubtless heard that our classmate Claudia Goldin (Cambridge, MA) was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for 2023 in October. Claudia, who is a professor of economics at Harvard, was recognized for “her wide-ranging work, which has delved into the causes of the gender wage gap, the evolution of women’s participation in the job market over the past 200 years, and the implications for the future of the labor force.” Classmates who attended our 50th Reunion were treated to a class seminar lecture by Claudia in which she reviewed how women of our generation had fared economically since graduation.

Rick Weisman, PhD ’73 (Bethlehem, PA) reports: “My wife and I had a wonderful mini-reunion with Lee Pasarew, ME ’69, and his wife. It was quite wonderful to reminisce about our times together at Cornell and our careers. This event took place shortly after my wife and I attended her 60th Ithaca High School reunion, where we spent time with Cornell classmates Adam Perl and Margie Peech, MA ’69. Ithaca looks gorgeous as always.”

By now, you’ve doubtless heard that our classmate Claudia Goldin ’67 was awarded the Nobel Prize.

Jeff Benjamin (Nyack, NY) writes: “Besides my time with friends and family—wife, children, and grandchildren—and although I’ve now retired for the third time, I try to remain professionally active by serving as a senior adviser to the Ethical Compliance Initiative, supporting the Brennan Center for Justice, and serving on a nonprofit board of directors. My son Ross’s translation of Franz Kafka’s personal diaries, the first such unexpurgated translation in English, was published in January, has received excellent reviews, and has resulted in many speaking engagements across the country.” As for Cornell memories, Jeff writes, “the most emotional was having the Chimes ring out ‘Taps’ and seeing the flag in front of Baker dorm lowered to half-mast, which is how I learned that JFK had died.”

Richard Weldgen Jr. (Webster, NY) writes: “I enjoy working in my garden and teaching my granddaughter all about landscaping, plants, and their care. I’ve been retired for 12 years, specializing in landscape lighting. I finally pulled the plug this year and am now fully retired. My only grandchild, Zazie, will graduate this year from Monroe Community College and will go on to SUNY Brockport in the fall. I came to Cornell as a transfer student and was assigned to Boldt Tower, top floor. A lot of steps, but the best room on campus: I could see the City of Ithaca and most of the lake,” he recalls.

George Chelius III (Santa Fe, NM) writes: “I got on ‘Antiques Roadshow’ in Santa Fe last summer. I had a 1929 baseball with signatures from the entire New York Yankees team.” George recently spent four weeks in Europe and reports that he is expecting a grandchild. His fondest memory of Cornell? “Taking my father to Barton Hall to see Cornell beat Princeton; Princeton did go to the Final Four in NCAA basketball.”

Lois Thetford (Seattle, WA) reports: “I take students from the University of Washington to shelters, tiny house villages, and camps for unhoused people, and teach them how to be providers for marginalized populations. I’m mostly retired but still faculty at UW Medicine MEDEX Northwest, the nation’s second-oldest physician assistant training program. This year my partner and I traveled to the Grand Canyon and Death Valley. Our daughter is six years out from leukemia treatment and turned 50 this year.” Lois’s favorite Cornell memory: “I lived at Triphammer co-op for sophomores and juniors. It was a real cultural experience meeting people from tiny towns and learning about their lives.” ❖ Richard Hoffman (email Richard) | 2925 28th St. NW, Washington, DC 20008 | Alumni Directory.

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1968

Happy to report more news from our classmates! Diane DeGeorge Nichols writes that she enjoyed attending our 55th Reunion. This past September, she and her husband, David, celebrated their daughter’s second wedding with friends and family over a perfect weekend; then, like many of us, she came down with COVID but soon recovered with the help of Paxlovid. Sounds familiar! She enjoys seeing her three grandchildren grow and develop. Diane recently took on the role of treasurer of the 75-member Irondequoit Chorale group located in the Rochester, NY, area.

Joel and Linda Schwartz Negrin ’69 enjoyed their annual August gathering at the home of Steve, ME ’70, and Gail Unger in New Harford, CT, along with Jim, ME ’69, and Beverly Philip, Hal and Meryl Sasnowitz, Lenny and Rona Rappe, Mike, JD ’74, and Susan Schenker, Larry, DVM ’70, and Clara Tauber Kahn, and Charlie and Susan Kohn. This annual Connecticut gathering of TEP brothers and significant others has been going on for over 55 years!

Susan London Russell lives in Baltimore and is on the go visiting family in Rochester and Pensacola, FL. She is active in community building and keeping tabs on otherwise isolated elderly residents in the Baltimore area.

Helen Karel Dorman, BS ’67, and husband Neal missed our Reunion for the very first time but made up for it by attending summer school at Cornell this past July! Helen and Neal spent a month in Europe this past spring and ended up in England, where they met with her “adopted” British family, who had saved her parents from the Holocaust. They also were joined in England by daughter Deborah Dorman Grishman ’01 and her family, who helped celebrate Helen’s birthday!

Elliott Meisel recently left his law firm and is now a solo practitioner. He remains active as a member of the Cornell University Library Advisory Council, and as a member he visits the Cornell campus at least annually. He’s funded the Meisel Family Reading Room in Olin Library and is helping the family of our late classmate Seth Willenson fund a terrific photography collection at the Johnson Art Museum in Seth’s memory. Seth died in 2022. He was a highly regarded and influential film marketing executive and producer with a 52-year career in the movie industry.

H. David Reines, a surgeon and author of 120 peer-reviewed publications, as well as multiple chapters on critical care, trauma, and surgical education, continues to live with his wife, Nina Totenberg, in Washington, DC. He has not retired but has “rewired” and is teaching at the University of Virginia and George Washington Medical School, and he is a docent at the Library of Congress.

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

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1969

Greetings, Class of ’69! This column is submitted by guest columnist Jon Kaplan, MD ’74. Before reporting on news received recently from classmates enjoying our golden years, I will take this opportunity to encourage all of you to attend our upcoming 55th Reunion, June 6–9, 2024 (note how easy it is to remember those dates!). Our 55th Reunion co-chairs, Cindy Nixon DuBose and Sally Knowlton, write, “Our Reunion is only a few months away. Plan to join your fellow classmates in Ithaca! It will be a great opportunity to enjoy wonderful events and lectures, to explore the beautiful campus and see the changes, and of course, to reconnect with friends and make new ones! We hope you’ll stay in touch, encourage other classmates to attend, and plan to join us to celebrate our 55th!”

Ildiko Czmor Mitchell, who uses a special “senior email address” that includes the phrase “imconfused,” seems hardly that; she is working toward finishing 900+ miles of the Appalachian Trail (without getting lost). When taking a break from her stroll, she enjoys every minute she can with her grandkids. Ildiko is somewhat embarrassed to admit that her favorite memories of Cornell were frat parties at Pi Kappa Alpha, with the music, camaraderie, and dancing, although she recalls times on big weekends when she had to go up the hill to sex fruit flies!

John Bradley, BS ’71, writes that he gains great satisfaction from watching his grandchildren mature in the age of electronics (kudos to him if he understands electronic products as well as his grandchildren!). In retirement, John volunteers at church functions, transports his grandchildren to special events, and mows grass! John’s favorite memory of Cornell is the diverse educational experiences, which, for someone coming from a small rural town, opened up opportunities and gave him a wider view of life. John says that his ROTC Army experience created leadership opportunities that he did not know were possible.

Seth Bramson, clearly a fan of the Sunshine State, writes that he is America’s most published Florida history book author. He is working on products 34, 35, and 36—the histories of North Lauderdale and North Miami, and a history of the Florida East Coast Hotel Company’s properties. The latter will be titled Jewels in the Sunshine: The Flagler System Hotels. His latest published book is Lost Restaurants of Miami. Seth has written almost 400 articles. He also has an interest in World War II history and is currently helping to plan a 100th birthday celebration for dear friend Bernard “Barney” Mayrsohn ’45, BS ’47, who is a survivor of the Battle of the Bulge.

Seth Bramson ’69 is America’s most published Florida history book author.

Philip Callahan and his wife have had the good fortune to check off some bucket list sites: Angkor Wat, the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, the pyramids and the Sphinx, and Petra. All were as fabulous as they imagined. In India they visited a tiger reserve and saw six tigers over the course of 13 days.

Robert Weisberg retired in May 2022 after an academic career as a physical oceanographer; he continues to work part time as a distinguished university professor emeritus. He was recently elected fellow, American Geophysical Union, and member, Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida. He and wife Cindy have two children and two grandchildren; they continue to enjoy travel, the arts, various outdoor activities, and fine wines, including ones produced by Cornell winemakers.

Frank Cardaci, MBA ’72, and his wife have retired to Walnut Creek, CA. Activities include ballroom dancing, painting, canasta, and mahjong. One grandchild will be applying to Cornell in the coming year. Frank hopes to come to our 55th this year (great!).

Bonnie Carroll sold her information management/information technology company in 2018 and continues to do pro bono work in scientific data for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. She does charitable work in East Tennessee and is on the board of a small synagogue in Oak Ridge, TN. She and her husband saw the northern lights in Lapland in December 2022 and then visited Antarctica in February 2023, thus making them officially bi-polar! They enjoy their puppy “grandpaws.”

Jeffrey Kaiden wasted no time in sharing news with us one day after retiring from his career at Westwood Ophthalmology Associates in Northern New Jersey, after 45 years. The practice was founded in the late ’70s by his brother Richard Kaiden ’62. Highlights of their career included being ophthalmologists for the New York Giants and the New Jersey Nets (news to me that these top-level athletes require eye doctors!). He and wife Ellen have two daughters and four grandchildren; one niece, two nephews, and one grandniece have attended Cornell. They last visited Cornell in 2019, where they spent the weekend with former roommate Sam Varsano and wife Ann (Goldsholl)—both ’69 classmates. Jeffrey has also been in touch with roommate (and classmate) Steve Kussin. In retirement, Jeffrey plans to teach, hone his golf game, and make trips to Ithaca (in good weather!).

Stay well and join us for our 55th Reunion in June! ❖ Jon Kaplan, MD ’74 (email Jon) | Alumni Directory.

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1970s

1970

So many of us are again traveling, or finding enjoyment through grandchildren, or taking on a new challenge of some sort. Alternately, a few continue with work, expanding a business, starting a new one, or taking on a challenge or task long postponed. For me, having decided to stay put in my now-mortgage-free home, it has been renovation, turning old into new, and dealing with the dust everywhere that such an activity always generates. I won’t bore you with details, except to note that such an effort constitutes a major life change, as everything in my home environment that was familiar is changed or changing. Sort of like retirement …

Rebecca Kvam Paquette (Hanover, NH) finds the most satisfaction in being the grandmother of four funny, intelligent, and creative kids (ages 12 to 2). In retirement, she is doing several things, beginning with volunteering for environmental causes. Rebecca is still singing in a choral group and is taking Osher Lifelong Learning classes at Dartmouth College—similar to Cornell’s Adult University but not just in the summer. Both of her daughters (and their families) live near Portland, ME. They sometimes suggest that the grandparents move closer, but they’re OK at this point with being an easy three-hour drive away.

Rebecca has two favorite memories of Cornell. The first is her friends, of course. The second is the McGraw Tower bells playing the “Alma Mater” every day. Living a few blocks from Dartmouth, she hears their bells chiming throughout the day, but never with as much panache as the daily mini-concerts at Cornell. (“I wake at night and think I hear remembered Chimes …”)

Claire Garrett (Hollywood, FL), now retired from the Broward County Cultural Division, finds enjoyment growing orchids. In May of this year, she traveled the Rio Negro River in the Brazilian Amazon on an Orchid Conservation Alliance cruise. Her group went out in motorized canoes every day, and some evenings, to see orchids in their native jungle habitat.

Claire states that she has been active in her community for many years, serving on local boards such as the Broward Cultural Council and the Hollywood Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts advisory board. She is also an officer in her civic association and led an ultimately successful decade-long effort to save the municipal Orangebrook Golf Course from commercial development. Claire notes that she enjoyed a winter visit from classmate Marya Dalrymple, and also shares that her favorite memory of time at Cornell is that of the scenic landscape.

In May of this year, Claire Garrett ’70 traveled the Rio Negro River in the Brazilian Amazon on an Orchid Conservation Alliance cruise.

Ron Terrazas (Tucson, AZ) finds satisfaction starting new enterprises with and for young people, while keeping him feeling young and seriously useful. His new company, Phenegra, recently won the “Tough Tech” prize in the 2023 Harvard Business School New Venture Competition. This launched in January as a Delaware public benefit corporation to develop graphene-related technology for ecology, with the first product a graphene-based permanent cure for recurring potholes. He states that, although that is a multi-billion-dollar market, fixing potholes is merely the minimum viable product.

Obviously, Ron has not retired, but continues as an entrepreneur, which is all he has ever done for work. He still works every day, but now facetiously only half time (“12 hours a day”)! Two additional companies, one in Oregon and the other in Delaware, are still in operation, with remote management made possible by the Internet. Besides the working hours, he finds time to hike almost every day in the national forest near his home. Ron’s personal and family life may even surpass his business energies, as he writes below.

“I dance (and teach) Argentine tango a lot, especially in Argentina. Since surviving a near-fatal brain aneurysm in 2016, I’ve been blessed with extraordinary good health. I’ve become the genealogist for my vast New Mexico family. Thanks to the dedicated record-keepers of the Spanish Inquisition, Mormon efforts to digitize them, and modern DNA, I’ve identified over 3,500 ancestors and 2,000 known living cousins.” Ron states that his favorite memory of his time at Cornell is the birth of his son in the snowy February of his senior year.

Frequent contributor Philip Schwartz (Santa Monica, CA) checks in, writing that he is no longer working in film and TV as a director of photography, and does not really miss the 12- to 16-hour days shooting! Yet he still enjoys teaching cinematography as an adjunct professor at USC. For two remarkable weeks in May, Philip and his wife, Andrea, explored Iceland by 4WD vehicle and on foot. He notes this was truly the most rugged, wild, and dramatic geography of any country they have ever seen.

Philip continues to study Italian and pursues his love of travel, cooking, and still photography. He stays in touch with classmates Doug Wyler and Allan Ropper, MD ’74, along with Mark Tabakman ’71, and is active with the Cornell Club of Los Angeles.

James Collyer (Jakarta, Indonesia) writes of his surprise at celebrating 27 years in Indonesia. He still makes it back to Ithaca at least once a year and enjoys chatting with Cornell applicants as part of the CAAAN network in Jakarta. His two daughters are both in New York City. The elder, a Cornellian, is making her way in the Big Apple, while the younger is a rising senior at NYU. Jim finds satisfaction in loving the experience of the rise of Indonesia since the dark days of Suharto’s demise in 1998, and he believes we can learn a lot from these thoughtful people.

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

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1971

Patricia Yuan Zuroski took the train from her home in Rochester (via Albany) to Manhattan and met, among others, Martha Coultrap and Sandie Feinman Antar for meals and conversation. And, because Sandie trains in the Metropolitan Museum’s vaunted docent program, the threesome were the beneficiary of Sandie’s most recently gained expertise in the Egyptian galleries. How do I know? Soon after, it was “All Aboard, Amtrak” and Tricia spent a week in D.C. for family celebrations … and a leisurely lunch with your correspondent in Penn Quarter. We talked for hours addressing only important matters (neither world peace nor domestic politics) and left with souvenir pix and big smiles.

In other reporting: days earlier, I ran into Anita and Eliot Greenwald ’73 and Don ’70 and Barbara Brem Noveau. Anita is a Cornellian by marriage and in 2024 retires as an administrator for Save a Child’s Heart, an NGO bringing children from the Middle East and Africa to Israel for pediatric heart surgery and training surgeons from those regions. Eliot was planning to retire at the end of 2023 as deputy chief of the Disability Rights Office at the FCC, working on disability accessibility policy for telecommunications and media.

Did you see Joe Wilensky’s feature in Cornellians about Jim Cunningham, ME ’75? “A prolific photographer for the Cornellian yearbook, Jim also served as its business manager, photo editor, and (in his senior year) co-editor-in-chief. … His family is donating the collection—a vivid window into long-ago campus life on the Hill—to the University Archives.”

In September, Al Miller and Sue O’Hara ’72, BA ’71, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. With them at a fine D.C. restaurant were Art Spitzer (one of their groomsmen) and Elisabeth Kaplan Boas; Barbara Gleich Selter; Melinda and Bob Robbins ’72; Susie and Bruce Turnbull ’73; and Sandi Birnbaum ’70. Al and Sue’s daughter and son-in-law led the toasting. Art shared faded wedding party Kodachromes. A good time was had by all.

Aric Press writes that he “became friends with Jim Roberts when he was the editor and publisher of the late and much-lamented Cornell Alumni Magazine and I served on the board. But we hardly ever saw each other. That changed after Jim and his wife retired and moved to Plymouth, MA. For the last two summers they’ve taken the ferry from Woods Hole to Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard, where we’ve spent lovely days in the woods or along the sea, talking of times past and future. Jim’s son was about to be married and Jim, a bass player of some renown in certain circles, was assigned the task of assembling a tight and lively band. By all accounts, he did.” Aric and his wife of 47 years look forward to more summertime visits. They live in Park Slope most of the year. Both houses have quieted down. They do miss their three children and five grandchildren. In late October he had a mini-reunion with three former housemates, “Ira Casson, the neurologist, Rich Kalikow, the lawyer, and Irv Rosenfeld, DVM ’74, the veterinarian—all splendid fellows and evidence that the admissions officers knew what they were doing.” (Irv now lives in Suffolk County, Ira in Nassau, and Rich in Manhattan.)

Ken ’71 and Janet Feldman Werker ’74 celebrated the 50th anniversary of their meeting in the Uris reading room, whence followed their first date.

Class of ’71’s 50th graduation anniversary was celebrated from afar by a Canadian classmate. But prior to it, Ken and Janet Feldman Werker ’74 celebrated the 50th anniversary of their meeting in the Uris reading room, whence followed their first date. In September, there was a Zoom with his North Quarry Street roommates, Mark Katz, Jay Branegan ’72, Steve Zimmerman ’72, and Mark Raffeld ’72. They remain among Ken’s best Cornell friends (plus also Joe Milano, Erik Videlock, and the late Gregory Zuroski ’72). In May, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their boys and their families in British Columbia’s beautiful Okanagan Valley. “It hardly seems like 50 years since Janet and I, two naive idealistic kids, filled up the VW Beetle with peace and love and our worldly possessions, stuck the dog in the back seat, and drove across the continent to make a new home in a different country.”

Ken continued, “It’s been a great ride here in Vancouver. Janet, a Canada research chair in development psychology at UBC studying infants’ language acquisition and speech perception, followed her dreams into research and academia. She was awarded the Order of Canada in 2018 for exemplary work.” Ken’s been in public and private sector leadership roles, concluding his career a few years ago as a managing partner with the global executive search firm Boyden and heading the Canadian partnership. Ken feels like a lottery winner in that their two wonderful sons, Greg ’98, ME ’99, and Eric (Harvard ’00), live within walking distance with the three grandchildren. Greg and Eric followed Janet into academia, Greg on UBC’s faculty and Eric on Simon Fraser’s.

Donald Downs helped lead nationally known free speech advocates and scholars promulgating the “Princeton Principles for a Campus Culture of Free Inquiry” (presented, August 2023). The principles create standards necessary to protect and nurture the culture of academic freedom, free speech, teaching, and research—hallmarks of a liberal education in a free republic. The principles are designed to supplement and broaden the “Chicago Principles for Free Expression” (2014) by addressing specific areas of campus life and providing guidelines for the reform that is now emerging from within and outside higher education.

Donald is Alexander Meiklejohn Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, a longtime free speech and academic freedom activist at Madison and beyond, and the author of several books, three of which deal with free speech and political issues. You may already own this one: Cornell ’69: Liberalism and the Crisis of the American University (Cornell University Press, 1999), a case history portraying the Straight takeover and its aftermath as foreshadowing (synecdoche) future campus conflicts. Such thought leaders as Walter Berns, Donald Kagan, Werner Dannhauser, and Walter LaFeber deeply influenced Donald’s thinking about the mission of the University.

Can you help a non-Cornellian good Samaritan who contacted me having found a Cornell class ring engraved with the initials J.J.A.? It may be a man’s ring. If you have clues of our classmate’s identity, let me know and I’ll pass the information along. ❖ Elisabeth Kaplan Boas (email Elisabeth) | Cara Nash Iason (email Cara) | Alumni Directory.

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1972

Pat Guy writes, “I’m involved—as many others are—in post-COVID revenge travel (even if it’s not really ‘post’). I’ve recently returned from Scotland, where I indulged my interest in Charles Rennie Mackintosh design and took in breathtaking Highland scenery and puffins.” Pat was planning a trip to the ice fjords of Chile in the fall.

Kenneth Light, MD ’76, has moved to Palm Desert, CA. “I’m traveling all over California doing spinal surgery,” he reports. “I spent three weeks in Puglia this summer.” Kenneth would enjoy hearing from any classmates in the area.

Irwin Rosenfeld writes, “We recently celebrated the second birthday of my sixth grandchild (fourth grandson) and the 10th birthday of my younger granddaughter. I performed in two shows this past summer, a musical, Broadway Songs Through the Decades, and “Make ‘Em Laugh: Theatre Guild Third Annual Comedy Night,” which I also directed and produced. My tally is now 18 shows in four and a half years. I continue with bridge and am past the halfway point between Silver and Ruby Life Master.” Watching his grandkids grow up, plus his successes in bridge and on stage, bring Irwin the greatest satisfaction these days. “I had a great time at our 50th Reunion last year, despite a plane delay that left me stranded overnight at Newark Airport resulting in arrival 24 hours late.” ❖ Alex Barna (email Alex) | Wes Schulz, ME ’73 (email Wes) | Susan Farber Straus (email Susan) | Frank Dawson (email Frank) | Alumni Directory.

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1973

Although months have passed since I journeyed to Ithaca to celebrate our long-anticipated 50th Reunion, my encounters and conversations with gracefully aging and accomplished classmates uplift me as the world beyond the personal continues to darken. My campus visit after more than a decade’s absence remains a surreal adventure as I walked new paths, basked in revitalizing outdoor vistas, and attended events in new and renovated buildings. The Cornell Botanic Gardens and expansive, diverse art collection on exhibit at the Johnson Museum of Art were delightful highlights.

Sincere thanks to the hardworking class volunteers I finally caught up with in person after solely online encounters in the last few years—including my tireless DPhiE sister, the unflappable Reunion co-chair Debbie Greene Rothman, who now is our co-class president with Rick Saltz, MBA ’74. The focused and energetic Wayne Merkelson, JD ’75, class fundraiser extraordinaire with Susan Murphy, PhD ’94, asks that you submit suggestions for speakers and topics for ongoing online opportunities to keep our class connections going.

Mark Evans (Madison, WI) “was grateful to have the chance to return to Panama to collect insects this past June. I brought about 3,000 specimens from this trip to the New York State Museum in Albany.” Mark also visited friends and relatives in Central New York and on Long Island; he plans to bring more Panama material to Albany in 2024.

Steven Fruchtman (NYC) is running a biotech company that is studying new drugs to treat cancer. He finds most satisfaction these days watching his three children “transition to adults.” His favorite Cornell memory is a brand-new one, spending “time with Chuck Keibler, my freshman roommate, at Reunion!”

Ellen Gordon Hollander (Albany, NY) volunteers for Jewish Family Services delivering kosher meals and driving the elderly to appointments. Her two children, who live in Boston and Austin, attended Cornell and Ellen and her classmate spouse Scott have two grandsons (so far!). Her favorite Cornell memories are her Tri Delt sisters, the ILR coffee room, and meeting and spending time with Scott. She enjoys travel, friends and family, swimming, yoga, walking, and biking.

I was grateful to return to Panama to collect insects this past June. I brought about 3,000 specimens from this trip to the New York State Museum in Albany.

Mark Evans ’73

Nancy Miller (Jersey City, NJ) received the Migel Medal award from the American Foundation for the Blind, the highest honor in her field of practice. Nancy has been the executive director and CEO of Vision/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired for 36 years. Her great-grandson (!) just celebrated his second birthday. Her favorite Cornell memory is “hearing James Taylor at the Big Red Barn at the start of his long career.”

Susan Murphy, “in retirement” in Ithaca, enjoys spending time with husband of four-plus years Hal Craft ’60; plays golf and tennis; takes her dog, chocolate Lab Ginger, for long walks and teaches her agility; serves on a corporate board and several nonprofit boards; and, as we all so very much appreciate, helps our class raise money. Her favorite Cornell memory is spending time with her lifelong friends and Pi Phi sorority sisters, some of whom she sees weekly in Ithaca, others whom she vacations with each year (now for 43+ years), and others she sees monthly via Zoom.

David and Christine Dickieson Pesses (Gloversville, NY) also enjoyed the 50th Reunion, spending time with Eric Shirley and reconnecting with people they “always wanted to meet again: Minfong Ho, MFA ’82, Marty Slye Sherman, MPS ’75, Marty Root, PhD ’99, and Sandra Black, BA ’75.” They both keep busy volunteering for various community organizations as well as traveling and, like me, write that their most satisfaction these days comes from “watching children have their own successes, and spending time with children and grandchildren.”

Vashti “Tice” Supplee (Phoenix, AZ), Audubon Southwest director of bird conservation, had an incredible 2023, during which she received the Partners in Flight David N. Pashley Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame. Her volunteer organizations are Arizona Elk Society and Phoenix Mountains Preservation Council. How fitting that she writes that her favorite Cornell memory is of being a volunteer student observer at Prof. Tom Cade’s “Hawk Barn,” where captive breeding recovery for the peregrine falcon began.

Torin Togut (Lawrenceville, GA) is an adjunct professor at the University of Georgia School of Law, where he is co-teaching a course in education and disability law. “Connecting and spending time with friends and family” brings him the most satisfaction these days; he often travels to Europe and visits family in the UK. His favorite Cornell memory is “the beautiful fall season with football and hockey.”

Linda Schaefer (Valencia, CA) informed us that her husband, our classmate Stephen Schaefer, passed away on November 6, 2022, only two days before their 42nd wedding anniversary. Linda, may Stephen’s memory always be a blessing for you.

Send news to: ❖ Pam Meyers (email Pam) | Dave Ross (email Dave) | Phyllis Haight Grummon (email Phyllis) | Alumni Directory.

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1974

It’s 2024, and our 50th Reunion is this June! Toward that end, your humble scribe attended a fall Zoom meeting of classmate volunteers representing “affinity groups” (sports teams, Greek houses, residential halls, choral/instrumental groups, clubs, etc.) who have offered to help encourage those members to attend our 50th. You may have already received an email from them—but if not, note that not every affinity group may be represented by a volunteer, so please check the list of those that are on our class website and reach out to them to be included in affinity notifications for this and future Reunions.

Speaking of affinity, my fellow U-Hall 4 fourth_­ floor freshman dorm denizen Jim Irish and Andrea Glanz are the chairs of our 50th Reunion campaign. They recently celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary in the Galápagos Islands on an amazing tour organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Jim and Andrea are active alumni, serving as co-president and vice president of the Cornell Alumni Association of Westchester, as well as members of the University Council and the Advisory Councils of the University Library and the Cornell Botanic Gardens. And now they are being honored for their decades of volunteer work for the University with a 2023 Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award. Our congratulations to both!

One more Reunion item. Make sure “your” song is included in the 50th Reunion playlist—send your favorite to John Foote (email John). And please note that fellow WVBR alum Larry Kleinman and I will utilize that playlist when we broadcast live on WVBR from our class headquarters on Friday night.

Fellow Cornell Club of Washington (DC) member Bonni Schulman Dutcher told me that in April she toured around Japan and had a wonderful trip eating lots of sushi! She was able to connect with Miwa Fukunaga ’00, whom we “met” on the Cornell Global Mixers Zoom (hosted by another fellow CCW member, Tony Chen ’12). Recently, Bonni came back from a tour around Nova Scotia. The highlight for her was whale watching in the Bay of Fundy and touring the Alexander Graham Bell museum on Cape Breton Island. She says that he predicted global warming in the early 1900s! (Editor’s note: Apparently there was no answer when he called.)

Anne Rogan, MS ’77, writes from Saratoga Springs, NY, that what brings her the most satisfaction these days is “good health and friends. Saratoga Springs is a great city for retirement. Lots of cultural events and you do not need a car—everything is in walking distance.” She is currently president of the board of Hunger Solutions New York. And she notes that her daughter and son-in-law celebrated their first anniversary in Japan and Bali. Her favorite Cornell memory is “walking all over campus with friends!”

We co-chair an alumni group called Friends of Cornell Jewish Studies. Since 2017, we have raised about $13 million for the Jewish studies program.

Eric ’74 and Laurie Michael Roth ’75

In Hightstown, NJ, Robyn Notterman, MD ’83, has been busy “being with my 2.5-year-old grandson” and sailing on her Sunfish, gardening, bird watching, and playing pickleball. “I’m still married to my Cornell sweetheart of 50 years! And I enjoy hanging out with my wonderful roommates who I still keep in touch with.”

Bill Van Sweringen, ME ’75, “retired August 1, 2023, after nearly five decades of work in the oil and gas engineering and construction industry. The last few years were spent in the technology and innovation world, where it was exciting to see changes coming.” He and his wife, Pat, intend to split their time between Houston and Santa Fe. He writes, “The Cornell campus is beautiful and allows one’s mind to open up to learn and process information. My classmates and relationships are special—good memories.”

Meanwhile, Lee Schear in Dayton, OH, is “still starting new businesses” like an authentic deli in town. And he still runs “two large-ish fintech companies. I am not planning on retiring.” Family is spread out, with “kids in Israel, NYC, and down the street with three grandkids.” Regarding Cornell, “I think my memories are probably far better than my actual time there. Boffalongo playing ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’?”

In Tallahassee, FL, Vickie Lund Pryor is “just enjoying every single day and being grateful for good health, good friends, and a loving family.” She stays busy quilting, gardening, traveling, and reading. “My son is a nurse practitioner in a busy trauma center, and my daughter-in-law is a nurse practitioner for a cardiologist. They have two wonderful children. My granddaughter just completed third grade, and my grandson, first grade.” Of her time at Cornell, she recalls, “The first time I saw snow I was amazed because it didn’t make any noise. I am from South Florida, and it was so beautiful! I have so many wonderful memories of Cornell it is impossible to only select one!”

Back north, in Scarsdale, NY, Eric Roth and his wife, Laurie (Michael) ’75, “co-chair an alumni group called Friends of Cornell Jewish Studies. Since 2017, we have raised about $13 million for the Jewish studies program at Cornell,” which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. “For the first time, students in Arts & Sciences can major in Jewish studies.” Eric and Laurie continue to have fun with kids and grandkids. His favorite memories of Cornell include “meeting my wife, developing friendships with fraternity brothers that have lasted to this day, and enjoying courses in the history and government departments that put me on course for a long and exciting career as a lawyer.”

We thank everyone for your contributions and invite you to continue to send in your news. ❖ Jim Schoonmaker (email Jim) | Molly Miller Ettenger (email Molly) | Alumni Directory.

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1975

Let’s get right to the news: Michael Spear retired from clinical practice of medicine in 2018. He had been an academic neonatologist for 30 years, and in the last five years moved to work in pediatric hospice and palliative medicine, as a director at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. While he retired from clinical practice, Michael continues his work, now teaching small group classes at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, and he also serves as faculty advisor for the honor board, which uses a restorative justice model in handling matters that come before that board. Michael enjoys his freedom to choose what he does each day. Besides his work, he exercises, plays golf, and spends time with his two grandchildren and four grown children. His favorite memory of Cornell? The 9 p.m. Willard Straight study breaks. Before social media, this was the ultimate gathering place—along with the Nines bar. He reminds us, “Life is a gift—stay active and keep the body moving!”

Madelaine Zadik retired from botanical education. She has now been devoting her time to writing personal essays and has had her works published. She is currently working on a memoir about her relationship with an aunt she never met except through letters she wrote from prison in Nazi Germany. One can view her works at madelainezadik.com.

Christine Rowland Copeland’s book Autumn in the Forest won the 2022 Gold Prize award from Reader’s Choice. Christine—who spent her Cornell evenings in the “Franklin” studios—recently connected with fellow author Rina Zampieron ’07, who spent her days playing with livestock in the barns. Both have published books aimed at young readers (with more publishing soon) and both have been endorsed as environmental advocates and educators by Mass Audubon (the oldest environmental group in America) for their work promoting nature-based education for children. For more information, visit Christine’s website.

Peter Kaestner was profiled in Outside magazine and Cornellians, which both describe his travels around the world on an adventure-filled quest to become the first birder to hit 10,000 bird species. As of May 11, 2023, he was at 9,856 species and the world record holder.

Madelaine Zadik ’75 is currently working on a memoir about her relationship with an aunt she never met except through letters she wrote from prison in Nazi Germany.

John Brooke finished his Cornell degree in December 1975, after taking a year off in ’74 for travel and work, and has been on a “glidepath into retirement”—most recently doing a one-third time semester at Ohio State as a historian through June 2023, when he was to retire fully as emeritus. “Sara and I will be in Columbus for a few more years, and we’re thinking of moving to Philadelphia. Our kids, Matt and Benjy, are doing great: Matt is finishing a PhD at Harvard in sociology after some time spent as a journalist and social worker; and Benjy is an animator in L.A. and a managing director on a series soon to be out on Netflix.” John previously was a historian at Tufts.

Sherilyn Burnett Young and husband Gary are pleased to report the addition to the expanding Young family with their seventh grandchild, Malcolm. “Our three kids have three girls, two boys, and a girl and boy, collectively ranging from ages 7 to 3 months. We were all together in Oahu over Christmas, just a few doors down from the Obama compound (they were in residence), and we had a glorious and chaotic time. The 24/7 presence of Secret Service on the beach made us feel very safe.” Sherry continues as attorney-at-law at Rath Young Pignatelli PC in Concord, NH.

Melissa Yorks writes from Gaithersburg, MD, remembering her smile when the freshman (probably) she saw from her favorite study place in the stacks at Uris Library slipped and fell in the snow on Libe Slope—and then slid all the way, unhurt, to the bottom. “His slide rule made it to the bottom first. Obviously an engineering nerd, and I fantasize that it was Bill Nye ’77. He would have been a freshman then.” After Cornell, Melissa got a degree in library/information science from Syracuse and is now volunteering at the Gaithersburg library. Her daughter, who got her MD from Columbia, is finishing her fellowship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in neonatology. She took an extra year to get her MPH from Dartmouth, so she and her husband have three Ivys in “our degree cabinet.” Melissa’s favorite Cornell memory? “Singing with the Sage Chapel Choir because I love to sing—I am still singing in a local chorus.”

This Thanksgiving, I’ll be spending hockey weekend at Madison Square Garden with my daughters—Go Big Red! ❖ Mitch Frank (email Mitch) | Joan Pease (email Joan) | Karen DeMarco Boroff (email Karen) | Deb Gellman, MBA ’82 (email Deb) | Alumni Directory.

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1976

Wow, classmates, you are busy! Cindy Powell writes, “I’m still working at 75% time but planning to retire from clinical work (as a pediatric geneticist) next year. I will still remain involved in clinical research on genomics and newborn screening.” Cindy lives in Chapel Hill, NC, and appreciates “time with friends and my dog and traveling.”

Robert Gabel lives in Silver Spring, MD, with his spouse, James Mitchell. Robert writes that his greatest satisfaction comes from “spending time with family and friends, travel, and horticulture. I am active in various organizations related to my orchid hobby. I have been doing some contract work and consulting related to my work in wildlife conservation.” Thinking back on his time at Cornell, Robert says it’s “hard to pinpoint one favorite memory, but I remember living on North Campus my first two years as particularly fun times—that’s where I got to know two guys who have remained close friends ever since.” Cathy Baldwin and her spouse, Ed Kit, now live in Bluffton, SC, having moved from the Dallas area in 2022. Cathy enjoys “golf, pickleball, and our new granddaughter, Grace Catherine.” Cathy is part-time COO for a software testing firm. Her favorite Cornell memory? “My time with my Pi Phi sisters.”

Great to hear from Kathleen Brenner in Alamo, CA. Kathleen is president and owner of Melrose Nameplate and Label Co. and BSLT Real Estate LLC. We also heard from Philip Worrall, who lives with wife Liz in Tucson. Philip says, “We’re doing the best we can.” His greatest satisfaction comes from his family. His favorite Cornell memory is “riding the campus bus and listening to all the different languages that were mixed together.” Wishing you well, Philip.

From Wayland, MA, Nancy Urban Johnson writes that she is “having fun and goofing off, enjoying life! After 20 years in California, we moved back to Boston in 2014. My mom is 98 years old and still going strong; my dad passed 11 years ago. Steve and I have been married 28 years.” Cornell memory? “Having fun with the gang at Mary Donlon Hall, fifth floor.” These days, Nancy takes most satisfaction from “being with Steve and traveling.” Wendy Schessel Harpham is “writing my regular column in Oncology Times, working on two new books, and exercising daily.” She and her spouse, Ted, PhD ’80, live in Dallas. Wendy says a “major health scare responded well to treatment,” and she’s taking satisfaction from “helping with and enjoying our six grandchildren, time with friends and family, and dinner and conversation with my husband.” Some of her favorite Cornell memories are “the gymnastics team, Cornell Symphony Orchestra, coffee shops, good friends, and working at Langmuir Labs.”

Bruce Piasecki ’76, PhD ’81, and his spouse, Andrea Masters ’79, BA ’81, have created the Creative Force Foundation, which annually gives an award to a writer whose work aims to ignite positive social change.

Bruce Piasecki, PhD ’81’s 22nd book is about to be published by Rodin Books, titled Wealth and Climate Competitiveness: The New Narrative on Business and Society. He and his spouse, Andrea Masters ’79, BA ’81, who live in Ballston Spa, NY, have created the Creative Force Foundation, which annually gives an award to a writer whose work aims to ignite positive social change. Their daughter, Colette Piasecki-Masters, is a physician now working at Harvard’s Spaulding Hospital. Bruce takes satisfaction from “conversations with my wife, my daughter, extended family, and select classmates like Scot Paltrow ’77, my undergraduate roommate, and Ross Tharaud ’75.” Best Cornell memories: “Discovery of my wife on the Arts campus. Conversations with living legends like Hans Bethe and my dissertation advisor, M.H. Abrams. Also stunned by attention to my writing by Archie Ammons and Ross Tharaud.”

Our dear friend Larry Epstein, MBA ’78, writes, “I am volunteering as a board member and construction worker for my local Habitat for Humanity, and as a board member for WVBR. Our son got married in 2021, and our daughter is engaged to be married in 2024.” Of course, Larry’s favorite memory of Cornell is working at WVBR, “where I met my wife and found my career.” I was jealous to see via Facebook that Larry, his spouse, Karen (Hasby) ’77, and our classmates Don, MBA ’79, and Karen Krinsky Sussman, Karen Polivy, and Ellen Cord Dember got together in Sag Harbor in September. So fun!

Speaking of reunions, Joe Doherty writes, “There was an epic gathering of Cornell Class of 1976 (also one 1974, one 1975, and two 1977s) Delta Tau Delta fraternity brothers and their spouses/significant others at the home of Curt Singer and his wife, Paula, this past August 10–13 on the banks of the Choptank River in Cambridge, MD. The ’76 alumni attending were: Gerry Ziegler and his wife, Bonnie (Sanford), Larry Zamojski, ME ’77, Mike Viola, Scott Ricketts, Walt Pechulis (via last-minute Zoom unfortunately), Alan Lipka, Jim Lang, Randy Kissell, John Ketchum, Mike Dominiak, Joe Doherty, Jim Covart, and Joe Wilson. Also attending were Mike Dzaman ’74, Paul Peloquin ’75, ME ’76, Vic Giddings ’77, and Sandy Diehl ’77. A great time of camaraderie, reminiscing, sharing news, live music, food, drinks, boat rides, lawn games, in-ground pool swimming, ping-pong, 8-ball pool games, singing traditional Cornell songs, making s’mores around a fire pit, 1976 trivia, and touring local historical/ecological sites was enjoyed by all. We all left feeling happy and blessed to be able to share that special time together. To everyone: embrace your memories, encourage the next generations, and Go Big Red!”

To that, I’ll only add: and keep us posted! ❖ Pat Relf Hanavan (email Pat) | Lisa Diamant (email Lisa) | Alumni Directory.

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1977

Several of our classmates have been in touch, so let’s get right to what they have to say!

Richard Grazi writes from Brooklyn, NY, where he is working full time as a reproductive endocrinologist (a.k.a. a fertility specialist). He has been married for 45 years to his wife, Leslie (Weiss) ’78, whom he met on campus while working at the Noyes Union Desk. They have six children and many, many grandchildren—13 and counting! Richard says his greatest satisfaction is his family, followed closely by his profession. He has no retirement plans as of yet. Richard has been a triathlete for the last 12 years. He writes, “I love the constant training—makes me feel young!”

Karin Suskin lives in Ithaca, NY, with her husband, Chris Sperry, and is still working in her private psychotherapy practice. She finds satisfaction in her work, her gardens, playing tennis, and spending time with friends. Most importantly, she enjoys her family, especially her grandchildren. Karin has two daughters. The older daughter has two boys, ages 2.5 and 4 months, and her younger daughter is expecting twin girls! Karin writes that she has too many favorite memories to list, but sledding down Libe Slope at night with great friends and great snow is among the best.

Anuvat Sirivat, ME ’78, PhD ’83, lives in Bangkok, Thailand, where he teaches at the Petroleum and Petrochemical College at Chulalongkorn University.

Gregory Rosenblatt and his wife, Shira, live in Cheshire, CT. Gregory retired from practicing law and is now teaching “computer and internet law” at a nearby law school. He is also on a local commission overseeing the building of two new elementary schools in his hometown. Additionally, Gregory is learning how to identify and remove invasive plants from his land and is replacing them with native, pollinator- and butterfly-friendly plants. He and his wife are catching up on travel, most recently spending three weeks in Israel and Greece.

Mark Mayrsohn writes that he continues to work as president of Mayrsohn International Trading Co. headquartered in Miami, FL. Mark followed his father and grandfather into the family business and has been with the company for 43 years. He and his wife, Kathy, recently celebrated 43 years of marriage and have traveled to Norway, Italy, and California. They have a daughter, Aubreyanne, who lives in Vermont. Mark writes that his favorite Cornell memory is being part of Cayuga’s Waiters for three years. He sums up with a simple: “Need I say more?”

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

I am writing this during week one of the war between Israel and Hamas with hope and prayers that all your friends and loved ones there are safe. I can only hope that by the time you read these updates, these horrific events will have ended and some sort of peace will have been restored. Times of tragedy often prompt us to reach out to others—especially those close to the source. Naturally, I contacted classmate Diana Bletter, who has lived in Israel for more than 30 years. She is in the northern part of the country, away from the bombs and missiles from Gaza, but very close to the border with Lebanon.

The war in Ukraine has also touched some of us, including Ellen Goldstein Wasserson, whose husband Gary discovered he had relatives there and arranged for them to get to Poland. “Inspired by the Holocaust and thoughts of ‘never again’ and ‘never forget,’ Gary decided he had to help all Ukrainians who wanted to leave,” Ellen explains. “Our family efforts have grown exponentially and with our network of ‘angels’ we provide a range of humanitarian support from basic necessities to wood-burning stoves, medical supplies, and medical aid. The group is also supporting 57 refugees in Warsaw, orphanages, and a summer camp for children in Ukraine to provide a sense of community and normalcy for them and their mothers who are all in trauma,” Ellen says. The organization is also working on creating an exhibit in NYC to raise awareness about the ongoing crisis. Another project is “Mom, I See War,” a virtual museum of 16,000 Ukrainian children’s drawings showing the trauma of war as well as hope and resiliency.

Joseph Holland, MA ’79, All-American and Academic All-American football player and Cornell trustee emeritus, has a new book to add to his CV. Make Your Own History: Timeless Truths from Black American Trailblazers. “Celebrating the vast breadth and scope of Black excellence, Make Your Own History spotlights the principles of success exemplified by the lives of 120 Black role models—from unsung heroes to renowned leaders—who have blazed trails throughout American history,” according to the publisher’s press release. Cornell’s Larry Moore, the Howard A. Newman Professor of American Studies, emeritus, provided a blurb for the book: “Holland’s passion for history provides readers with vignettes of over 100 Black Americans who overcame obstacles to achieve success in virtually all fields, including art, literature, science, sports, business, and politics. Many figures are well known, others less so, but they all speak to readers, often in their own words, about the power of a determined vision. Holland’s intention is inspiration, and his well-chosen examples amply fulfill that aim.”

Apprehension about our environment led Sarah Thole Fischell, ME ’79, to volunteer for Citizens’ Climate Education and Citizens’ Climate Lobby, grassroots climate advocacy organizations. “If you’re concerned about how we get back on a road to a safe climate, it’s good to be in a group,” she says. During her retirement, Sarah has also picked up a couple of other hobbies including bridge, playing ukulele, and singing in her congregation’s choir. Her husband, David ’75, PhD ’80, has not yet figured out how to be retired: he’s working on a new Cornell-affiliated startup company and has taken up the banjo. Sarah enjoys family gatherings and playing with her grandkids, the children of Erin Fischell ’10 and Sam Fladung ’08. One of her favorite memories is playing cymbals in the Big Red Marching Band’s rendition of Respighi’s “Pines of Rome.”

William Hines ’78 and his wife completed the Buckeye Trail around the entire state of Ohio. At 1,444 miles it is the longest loop trail in the U.S.

Since retirement, Eric Law has focused his energy on writing and recording songs in response to our extremely polarized world. His latest album is “Recreate.” You can check it out at his website. After dealing with prostate cancer for more than three years, Eric has been clean for more than a year. His husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease last year and accepting the role as caregiver has meant major changes in his retirement plan. Of his time on the Hill, Eric recalls: “After an evening of study in the A.D. White Reading Room, I came out of Uris satisfied that I had caught up with my classwork and then walked down Libe Slope while gazing at the stars.”

Bruce Schneider is not ready for retirement yet. Last year he joined KPMG to head third-party risk for the firm. “I still have a bit more fuel in my tank,” he notes. “I will keep working as long as it continues to be fun!”

William Hines is exploring and enjoying the natural world in Ohio. “Getting away from the daily turmoil to call owls and look for wildflowers brings me peace and tranquility,” he says. William and his wife completed the Buckeye Trail around the entire state of Ohio. At 1,444 miles it is the longest loop trail in the U.S. “Due to COVID it took a little longer than planned, but we got ’er done!” he adds. William volunteers clearing and blazing new trails while working on getting a National Park Service sawyer certification. He is also on an advisory board for a new Montessori school in the inner city of Cleveland. William’s favorite Cornell memory: “Wine tasting.”

Mark Rust just returned from a family trip to Europe, where they visited his heritage homeland of Switzerland and his wife’s, Sicily. Their two daughters joined them traveling north from Sicily through Rome, Tuscany, Florence, and Venice before heading for the Swiss Alps, and ending with a journey up the Jungfrau to the “Top of Europe.” Of college days, Mark happily recalls the food trucks on West Campus: “Great food and great conversation!”

Hoping to have more news next time. Please send it to us. Peace on earth. ❖ Ilene Shub Lefland (email Ilene) | Cindy Fuller, PhD ’92 (email Cindy) | Alumni Directory.

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1979

“I’m now hard at work on innovations in 3D printing of drugs, with funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Standards and Technology,” writes Sharon Flank. “Chemistry is not where I started my career, in Slavic linguistics and natural language processing, but fortunately I seem to have picked up enough from Cornell housemates (including Beverley Bond Matthews, JudithAnn Hartman, Angeliki Diane Rigos, Judith van Adelsberg Berman, and Ellin Kavanagh) to get me started.”

Julie Fernandez is retired and reports that she moved from Massachusetts to Rhode Island recently. She greatly enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, watching movies, and knitting. Of her time at Cornell, Julie notes, “Friends that I made there are still good friends now!”

Shari Watchman-Kates writes, “I have recently closed my legal practice and retired to be a snowbird. Joining my three children, Alex ’09, BS ’08, Mitchell (MIT ’13), and Jaclyn (UPenn ’15), in South Florida for six months and returning to New Jersey and Vermont for the summer and fall is great for my golf game. Husband Eric ’78, DVM ’81, still follows the horses and clients to Florida for the winter show/racing season. Mitchell and Alex are keeping busy with their company, VetCove, which consolidates pharmaceuticals for veterinarians, and Jackie is keeping her mom busy planning a wedding when not working as a senior consultant for Accenture. I am happy to regularly entertain my Cornell roommate Cindy Safier Lehrer, who recently spent Labor Day with our family at our place in Manchester, VT, and connect with Arthur Robbins ’78 for a beer, golf, or dinner. I love staying involved with my local Cornell Club and am excited to once again host an end-of-September event for our local alumni. Hope to make it to our 45th this year to reconnect.” ❖ Cynthia Ahlgren Shea (email Cynthia) | Danna Levy (email Danna) | Linda Moses (email Linda) | Alumni Directory.

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1980s

1980

In my last column, I (Dik Saalfeld) threatened to write about how to clean fish if I didn’t get any news from fellow classmates. I got a few pieces of news, so you lucked out, but I am still tempted to punish your collective lassitude by describing the life cycle of liver flukes. It’s grisly, from a host perspective, although the parasite lives happily ever after. In your guts. I’ll see how I feel toward the end of the column.

Class officer Tim O’Connor writes: “I am slowly transitioning to my next phase of life; in addition to board work, I am executive director of the Park City, CT, Compost Initiative. We have secured our 501(c)(3) status and currently operate a pilot operation while we negotiate for a substantial lot so we can operate at scale and remove food scraps from the waste stream. Connecticut burns most of its waste, and as you remember from burning dinner last night, it stinks and is actually unhealthy. It can cause asthma and other respiratory problems. It also costs a lot due to the weight and water content—natural gas is used to dry and burn the food scraps. The current method is generally a dumb approach all around. Our aerobic static pile system turns your food scraps into a healthy and helpful soil amendment, essentially probiotics for your soil, with no noxious odors, at a substantially lower cost than burning and landfill. Check out our website for more info. Even New York City is mandating food scrap separation for composting—despite the threat by the street rat union to start ankle biting people when there are no food scraps available.” Tim adds, “Hang in there, your 45th Reunion is only 18 months away!”

Barbara Greene writes that she is a “senior citizen and enjoying the delightful unplanned reconnection with several Cornell classmates! Synchronicity at its best!” Barbara doesn’t mention her reaction to clerks who automatically give her the senior discount without asking for ID, or which of her knees pops first when she stands up.

Robert Woodhead ’80 and Andrew Greenberg ’79 co-wrote the well-known role-playing computer game ‘Wizardry’ while they were at Cornell.

Yes, folks, most of us are on Medicare now. We have been admitted to senior citizenship with all the rights, privileges, and honors pertaining thereto, most of which suck, but it beats the alternative. I consumed every bit of literature on Medicare Advantage plans that landed in my mailbox, hungrily devouring the wonderful options available to me. Snort! And neither did you!

Classmate Robert Woodhead and Andrew Greenberg ’79 co-wrote the well-known role-playing computer game “Wizardry” while they were at Cornell. It is legendary among those in the know. Plans are afoot to commemorate the 50th anniversary in a few years. Stay tuned.

Speaking of computers, they were made of wood in those days and run by steam engines. Playing a computer game could deforest the back 40, as they were slow and a rousing game on the old Atari could take weeks. That’s what I tell other people’s grandchildren, anyway. Not my own, of which there are none. I didn’t have the stomach for the interim process, namely having children and being responsible for them. Also, procreating would have queered the Saalfeld Retirement Plan, which consists of not having progeny or ex-wives.

While treatable and preventable, untreated liver fluke infections can last up to 30 years, the lifespan of the parasite, according to the CDC. The little fellers can chew through the walls of many of your organs, causing pain and unhappiness along the way.

What makes you sing, or gasp in wonder? How many angels dance in your dreams? Have you been to Bali, Innsbruck, or Saskatoon? Tell us! Dip your quill in your grade school inkwell, pull out a sheet of foolscap, and let us know. Tim, Barbara, and Robert (see above) took the four minutes necessary out of their busy days to share their worlds with you, so please return the favor. Or I shall become very cross and write of the bald-faced wasp nest over my garage, and where the ungrateful little buggers bit me. And I don’t mean in front of my garage, if you take my meaning. ❖ Dik Saalfeld (email Dik) | Chas Horvath, ME ’81 (email Chas) | David Durfee (email David) | Leona Barsky, MS ’81 (email Leona) | Alumni Directory.

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1981

Here’s hoping for a wonderful 2024! I wish only the best for you all—cheers, bubbly, and happiness always. We finished up the college application process with Ella, so only time will tell which university she ends up at. I’m busy raising funds for Hadassah Medical Organization for its two hospitals in Jerusalem. If you’re ever in Delray Beach, I’d love to see you—please let me know!

On another note, from the law firm world: Anita Lichtblau and other partners from her firm, Casner & Edwards, gave a presentation at the Providers’ Council’s 48th Annual Convention & Expo in October. Their workshop, “Legal and Financial Update and Best Practices,” covered auditing, accounting and regulatory issues, requirements for nonprofit contractors, and more. Anita advises nonprofit organizations on a wide variety of legal issues. She specializes in the creation of corporate policies, employment matters and government, and private grants and contracts. She is co-chair of the Boston Bar Association Chapter 180 Working Group, member of the BBA Tax-Exempt Organization Section, and member of the board of directors of the Rebecca Pomroy Foundation.

Alxe Noden co-authored a book with her husband, published by Shambhala Publications, called The Sound of Cherry Blossoms: Zen Lessons from the Garden on Contemplative Design. Part garden design philosophy, part Zen Buddhism, the book eloquently shows how the principles of garden design are the same guidelines we can follow to design our life.

And in September 2023, Larry Kasanoff published A Touch of the Madness: How to Be More Innovative in Work and Life … by Being a Little Crazy (September 2023). Larry, the producer who made True Lies, Platoon, Mortal Kombat, Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out, and more, gives readers the confidence to embrace the most unique parts of themselves, lean into their one-of-a-kind madness, and become fearlessly creative. In this entertaining, easy-to-read, and inspiring book, Larry uses eccentric behind-the-scenes stories of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters to demonstrate his three simple steps to innovation: create, ask, and play.

Alxe Noden ’81 co-authored a book that shows how the principles of garden design are the same guidelines we can follow to design our life.

In the Tri-State area, Markos Loizias, MS ’83, lives in Short Hills, NJ. He and wife Susan (Chandler) ’80 have two children, one daughter and one son. He is continuing a long career designing long-span bridges throughout the U.S. and overseas. In Upstate New York, Nina Zakrzewski Harff, DVM ’88, owned Animal Doctors Veterinary Clinic in Watertown from 1998–2015. She retired in 2015 and is now living in Charlotte, VT. She is married to Chris Ritcey ’79. She started a small flower business in 2020 selling homegrown, cut flower bouquets to local customers.

Out West is Alison Sherman Arkin. She reports that her career—which has centered around serving others—has taken a winding course: from registered dietitian in Boston to VP clinical services and marketing for a pharmacy company in California to careers in HR at Cleveland Clinic and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. She is most proud and humbled by earning a certification as a professional certified executive coach. She is grateful for her marriage to a Cornell grad, Mike ’78, ME ’80, and for their two children, Monica and Scott. She thought she would be a nutritionist forever. Her Cornell degree and MS from BU helped her to move into other professions and into leadership. She never thought she would be so committed to parenting and to social causes. Also never imagined that she would become a professional speaker. Cornell prepares us well.

Moving South, Dale and Mary Warner Webster continue to live in the Charlotte, NC, area. They just built a new home in Denver, NC, on the west side of Lake Norman, just north of Charlotte. Anyone traveling up or down I-77 should reach out, as they are perfectly situated for all the “half-backs” from Florida. Dale retired from BASF after 35 years and is busy getting the new house finished and ready (along with the boat, jet ski, kayaks, paddle boards, fishing poles, etc.). Mary retired from obstetrical nursing about eight years ago and now has a busy career in real estate. Dale just got his real estate license also, to help. Three children and three grandchildren keep them busy, plus traveling, keeping up with friends from college, and all of their moves. They recently traveled to Albany, NY, to visit Patricia Quinlan Murray after the unexpected loss of her husband, Tim. The event was sorrowful; however, they were able to connect with many old friends and Cornell acquaintances. Pam Kirk, DVM ’86, and Kathy Buckley Boak were also in attendance.

In the Midwest, Scott Matolka tells us he is senior director, sales and marketing, North America at Performance Health and living in Hudson, OH. He reports that there have been lots of twists and turns, but he did complete his MBA, which opened many career opportunities, most of which were worthwhile and successful. Much has changed from the vision of what was conceivable in business in 1981.

I hope you all are doing well. Please do let me know what’s new with you! ❖ Betsy Silverfine (email Betsy) | Alumni Directory.

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1982

Happy New Year! Thanks to everyone who responded to our latest news request. We are happy to report the following. Mark Merila lives in Montana, on the shores of Flathead Lake, and writes, “The view of the lake and Mission Mountains is breathtaking.” He added that he retired from Unilever after 31 years—the last five-plus years at Upfield, the largest plant-based company in the world. Cornell has continued to be a big part of his life as both of his children, Alysse ’20 and Kevin ’22, attended, so he had the opportunity to visit campus many times and reconnect with his DU brothers. He said he is already looking forward to our 45th Reunion, reporting that they had 16 of the 29 DUs in our class attend our last Reunion—and they’re hoping for all next Reunion!

Olson Okada, MS ’85, retired in December 2018 but then went back to work as a rehired annuitant; he works part time with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Honolulu.

Robert Siew is “still practicing medicine” and is living in Glendale, CA. His favorite memories are from freshman year with “Michael, Gwen, Jeffrey, Jodi, Janice, Lynn, and Judy.” Adam Potkay is “still teaching at William & Mary in Virginia” (English and comparative literature) and has a new book, Hope: A Literary History, which is out as a trade publication with Cambridge University Press. Adam’s favorite memories of his time at Cornell were his literature and English courses, especially with Neil Hertz and Ric Bogel, and his band, Spiral Jetty, which played at the Nines from 1981–82!

Ruth Logan writes that she just opened up a law firm with her daughter, Natalie, in Quincy, MA: Logan & Logan LLP. Ruth reports that she is playing a lot of tennis and has taken up fencing again, which she did at Cornell. She is also “traveling as much as possible—whenever and wherever!” Scott Irgang just became head of labor relations for Petco and shares that his favorite memory is “when the Hot Truck driver let me wait for my Double PMP inside the heated cab.”

Hope you all stay warm this winter! And please don’t forget to share your news in our online Reunion memory book. ❖ Nina Kondo (email Nina) | Doug Skalka (email Doug) | Mark Fernau (email Mark) | Alumni Directory.

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1983

By the time this gets published, our wildly successful 40th Reunion will be ancient history. Right now, though, on this gorgeous fall day, I’m reflecting on how many old friends I reconnected with this past June on campus and how much fun and how well-run the entire weekend was. Next up: Zinck’s Night and the Big Red men’s hockey game in Madison Square Garden! In the meantime, here are some updates from our class.

Kent Wood, ME ’84, writes with pride from St. Louis, MO, that the book Canaäd was recently published by his son, Dan. “This unique and phenomenal work of historical fiction is the result of years of cultural study from the Late Bronze Age.” Follow this link for more information.

Laurence Goodman has been named a 2023 Super Lawyer for his work as a labor and employment attorney at Philadelphia firm Willig, Williams & Davidson.

Classmate Lisa Alexander writes from the offices of Nature Forward, the first Audubon organization in the nation to change its name in response to increased scrutiny of John James Audubon’s ties to slavery and racism. “In addition to doing great mission work for people and nature in the D.C. region, our organization has attracted an interesting assortment of Cornellians as leaders.” Gerald Schneider ’61, Diane Wood, MS ’77, and Lisa all came to play pivotal roles at the organization: Gerry was the first executive director in the 1960s and is a major donor today; Diane is the board president; and Lisa is the current executive director.

Lisa describes the three alumni discovering a wonderful confluence of experiences through the Field Natural History program run by Richard Fischer, PhD ’53. “We all credit Cornell’s focus on field studies with influencing our respective careers and leading us to seek out and find a home at Nature Forward. We shared student memories about pinching pennies, drinking Tang, and counting cheese slices while working to put ourselves through school. And we share the memorable field laboratory experiences that led us to our converging commitment to people and nature in the D.C. region.”

I was part of the 100-year celebration of creative writing at Cornell, and the University has had a place in several of my books.

Helen Schulman ’83

Helen Schulman announced the release of her latest novel, Lucky Dogs, from Knopf. The reviews have been really terrific. Says Kirkus: “You might think that a book inspired by the role of Rose McGowan in the fall of Harvey Weinstein would have a fairly predictable story arc, but this barn burner of a novel handily incinerates that assumption.” This is her seventh novel and ninth book! Helen mentioned her love of Cornell and that her writing life started there: “I was part of the 100-year celebration of creative writing at Cornell, and the University has had a place in several of my books.”

Eric Kierstead, ME ’85 (Cary, NC) tells us that he is still happily employed as chief technology officer for an international logistics company and frequently meets up with Cornell classmate Patrick Fogarty to play golf. He writes, “I have very fond memories of living in my fraternity (Delta Kappa Epsilon) for three years.” He also fondly remembers the “long-gone Cornell University Weightlifting Club that took residence in the Teagle Hall clock tower! It was a fun, tight-knit group, and the CUWC existed long before weightlifting and health clubs were mainstream.”

Steve Wilansky touched base to let us know that after spending the majority of his legal career in-house as a chief legal officer/general counsel, he “recently joined Rooney Law PC, an international corporate law firm with offices in New York, London, and San Francisco, as managing partner. I live outside Chicago with my wife, Lori, and our daughter Faith is an actor in NYC.”

After 18 years in the NFL as vice president at the Washington Commanders, Rod Nenner writes that he has joined the American Astronomical Society as chief business officer.

Pete Lynch and wife Barb welcomed their first two grandchildren this past May and June. Luke Thomas was born on May 1 in New Jersey and Mark Douglas was born on June 17 in Vicenza, Italy. The happy grandparents both made it to Reunion and did not seem or act like grandparents for the few days we were together. ❖ Nancy Korn Freeman (email Nancy) | Alyssa Bickler (email Alyssa) | Tom Helf (email Tom) | Jon Felice (email Jon) | Stewart Glickman (email Stewart) | Alumni Directory.

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1984

We have some news to share! Gail Rowe writes that what gives her the most satisfaction these days is giving her cats the attention they want and taking a nap in the afternoon. She retired in December 2022 from her position as a biology professor after 25 and a half years teaching at La Roche University in Pittsburgh. She is now a full-time, in-home caregiver to her 98-year-old mother in Cortland, NY.

Gail has been a practicing Buddhist for about 25 years. After she is no longer needed to care for her mother, Gail looks forward to retirement in Ithaca, where there is an active Buddhist community. Her favorite memory of Cornell is the diversity and intellectual and artistic stimulation of a large city, but with natural beauty and easy access to rural areas of Central New York. She found that she could be her true self while attending Cornell and living in Ithaca.

Cyndy Donato recently moved to Coeur d’Alene, ID! She says that it is beautiful, and she is having a great time professionally and personally. She invites her Class of ’84 friends to visit!

Diane Matyas ’83, BFA ’84, MFA ’89, sends greetings! Though she entered Cornell with a different class, she considers herself a member of our class, since we all have connections that span our time at Cornell (which in her case includes growing up in Ithaca and an MFA). She was happy to return to Cayuga Lake this August for the annual Women Swimmin’ event for Hospicare. She was hosted by her Ithaca High School and Cornell Law pal Julie Tang, JD ’88, who took on a gang of the members of the New York City “Swimmers of Anarchy”—an open water swim group she started in 2020. And Diane’s 93-year-old mother, Betty, showed up as well! They visited old friends and attended a memorial for the wonderful Henry Doney, who served Cornell with Diane’s dad, Robert Matyas ’51, BArch ’52, as they built out campus and the amazing facilities from the 1960s to 1980s, especially the scientific ones.

Diane Matyas ’83, BFA ’84, MFA ’89, teaches for the Guggenheim Museum’s venerable Learning Through Art program.

Diane recently returned from an odyssey to Greece with classmate Nephelie Andonyadis. Nephelie is a world-class theater designer who also spent ample years designing at Cornell architecture tables in the 1980s. Thanks to her language and world travel skills, Diane and her son Abraham had a wonderful trip. They talked about all the Cornell connections that brought them together—especially as apartment-mates in the East Village in 1984. She says, “Good friends don’t diminish!”

These days, Diane is working as an artist with a new studio on Staten Island. She has some new public visual art projects, including “Submerged: Marine Life of New York Harbor” and “Flyway” (a series of bird sculptures linking the North Shore areas of Staten Island, which uses the imagery of migrant birds that pass through NYC). She also teaches for the Guggenheim Museum’s venerable Learning Through Art program and offers workshops at her own Peanut Gallery Press studio. Diane hopes to connect to more Cornell creatives in the future, now that her museum administration career has come full circle and she is working as an artist. She is eager to meet artists and curators of all ages, especially those interested in her favorite theme of art/biology.

Stay tuned for the next installment of our trek toward Reunion 2024 in less than six months! Mark your calendars for June 6–9, 2024. And don’t hesitate to write to your class correspondent: ❖ José Nieves (email José) | Alumni Directory.

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1985

Enjoying the ability to work remotely is Joni Palmer, who joined the Southwest Environmental Finance Center at the University of New Mexico in January 2020. According to her bio, “Her research interests focus on the intersection of human-environment relations and landscape design and community planning. She is interested in social and cultural aspects of water, especially in rural and disadvantaged communities.” Joni fondly recalls the U-Halls and the haul up Libe Slope.

Troy Rosasco has been enjoying watching his children finish their schooling and start their careers. He writes, “I’m still working for myself as a 9/11 victim compensation fund attorney. I have been representing 9/11 victims and families for more than 20 years, and although it can be very sad at times, it is also satisfying to know the help you can provide. My wife and I spent a long weekend with Howard Mains and his wife, Vicki, at their lake cottage in Quebec last summer. We are trying to get the old but far-flung crew together for our 40th Reunion in Ithaca!” When asked about his favorite memory of Cornell, he wrote: “Making lifetime friendships that have stood to this day. What more can you ask for?”

“Class of 2023 Commencement weekend was sublime,” writes Maria Gallo Ashbrook, “a string of rare sunny days when Cornell truly is the most beautiful campus on earth. My son, John ’23, graduated as a government and China & Asia-Pacific studies major (yes, that Mandarin in seventh grade paid off!) and joins big brother Keenan ’20 in D.C. to begin his career. This, of course, warms my little Cornell-in-Washington (’84) heart. I’ve attended nine Cornell Commencements of family and friends, beginning in 1974. This graduation weekend was extra special because we returned to my hometown of Auburn, with festivities across Cayuga, Owasco, and Skaneateles lakes. I guess you can take the girl out of the Finger Lakes, but you can’t take the Finger Lakes out of the girl! Let’s Go Red!” ❖ Joyce Zelkowitz Cornett (email Joyce) | Alumni Directory.

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1986

As I am writing this column on October 16, the federal tax deadline for those who file an extension, it is fitting that our first news involves taxes—albeit property taxes. Steven Getman writes that he lives in Watkins Glen, NY, where he serves as the Schuyler County Attorney. Steve is committed to helping property owners avoid foreclosures due to delinquent property taxes. Property owners receive a letter with a handwritten note reminding them of their obligation. This is an attempt to distinguish the tax bill from “junk mail” and hopefully prevent foreclosure. It is an example of a classmate going above and beyond what is required by law to impact lives.

Phil McCarthy is working in wealth management at Merrill Lynch in NYC. He and his husband, Jim, split time between NYC, Palm Beach, and Hudson, NY. These days he is most excited about travel and recently attended Oktoberfest in Munich. He shares that he was born in Ithaca when his father was a Cornell law student. Phil wins the ultimate Cornell indoctrination contest—I took my daughter Alexandra ’16, BS ’17, to Cornell for the first time at 6 weeks and was sure I held the title until I read Phil’s note!

Donna Mandell Korren shares that she and her husband, Todd, recently moved to Manhattan from the suburbs. She remains hard at work on Empty Quester, her business that focuses on the 50+ demographic. The focus of Empty Quester is helping people grapple with the question of “what is next?” after the kids are launched, and helping businesses understand and reach this important demographic. Her career includes a TEDx Talk and workshops. She is fortunate to see her Cornell friends often.

And speaking of “old Cornell friends,” Mark Katz checks in with a fond reminder that we used to start our day with the Cornell Daily Sun. He says he misses that and actually just misses newspapers! I think we all agree. I’m sure a lot of us remember riding the crowded Manhattan subways with people trying to unfold and read an entire spread-out newspaper. ❖ Lori Spydell Wagner (email Lori) | Michael Wagner (email Michael) | Ellen Nordberg (email Ellen) | Toby Goldsmith (email Toby) | Alumni Directory.

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1987

Greetings, classmates! I’m writing this at the peak of fall foliage on the East Coast. The pictures from Cornell are stunning and they remind me, and probably many of you, of the first time I fell in love with our school! Of course, by the time you are reading this, our campus will be covered in snow! Anyway, here’s the latest from my inbox.

Lisa Panek Francese lives in Yorba Linda, CA, with her husband, James ’86. She is a neonatal intensive care nurse, taking care of small, premature, or sick newborn babies. Lisa and James moved locally to a small home with a barn in the backyard for their two horses, Smarty and Henry. In addition to caring for and riding the horses, they are enjoying growing their own fruits and vegetables. Her favorite memories of Cornell were fun study times and snowball fights with her roommate and fellow nutrition major, Linnea Larson Jorgensen. They are still friends to this day. She and James are celebrating their 36th anniversary.

Joseph Sarbinowski lives in Darien, CT, with his wife, Amy. He is the chief operating officer for an NYC-based fintech company. They have two sons at Cornell in the classes of 2024 and 2025 and they get up to Cornell quite a bit to visit them. He gets great satisfaction from rekindling old college and work friendships. His favorite memories of Cornell are the many great person-to-person memories. He will especially never forget the beautiful sunsets he witnessed as he walked back to West Campus freshman year.

Kate St. Vincent Vogl co-wrote two books over the pandemic that were released this fall. The first, Lady Ref: Making Calls in a Man’s World, tells the story of Shannon Eastin, who became the NFL’s first female official during the 2012 lockout. The second, Iron Horse Cowgirls, reveals what happened in the 1930s and ’40s that led Louise Scherbyn to found the Women’s International Motorcycle Association.

Amy Benigno Fothergill, who lives in California, happened to be in Denver on Zinck’s Night and, wouldn’t you know, she met some cool Cornellians including our classmate Matt Sanderson. She pushed everyone to attend our 40th Reunion in June 2027! Now that’s the Spirit of Zinck’s!

Landscape architect Glen Dake was one of this year’s recipients of the CALS Outstanding Alumni Award. Glen has spent his career improving areas of Los Angeles and works to create community gardens in low-income neighborhoods in the city.

Don’t forget to check your inbox for the fall ’23 issue of the new Cornell Class of 1987 newsletter! Keep in touch and continue to share your news by emailing either of us: ❖ Whitney Weinstein Goodman (email Whitney) | Liz Brown, JD ’90 (email Liz) | Alumni Directory.

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1988

Happy winter, Class of ’88! It’s Pam Darer Anderson writing to you from a blustery, cold day in Toronto, ON, Canada, where I live with my husband, Graham, MBA ’88. We have four daughters, Rebecca, 27, Allison, 25, Sarah, 22, and Katie, 18. I am the newly elected class correspondent for the next five years, and I look forward to receiving all of your news. Please email me anytime.

Let’s congratulate the following other newly elected class officers who will guide our class for the next five years: president, Lisa Pasquale Semmes; vice president, Cornelia Oliver, MBA ’93; treasurer, Dan Frommer; and secretary, Lori Bianco Orr. We are also excited to welcome back several returning members to our class council for the next five years, as well as adding these new faces: Jill Fields, Doug Ringel, Victor Seidel, and Geetanjali Akerkar Ruthen, MD ’93.

Cristina Ortolani wrote in from Mahopac, NY, to tell us that she published a children’s book, titled Turtle and Bird: Spring. She currently works at the Country Children’s Center.

After graduation, Ted Cox moved to New York City and worked in the financial industry. For about 20 years, he has been living in Richmond, VA, with his wife, Angela, and their two sons, Will, 25, and Charlie, 23. Ted works for a small investment management firm. His son Will recently graduated from law school and is working in Richmond. Charlie graduated from the University of Virginia and works in New York. Ted stays in touch with several ’88s: John Kawola, Walt O’Shea, Dave Thomas, Pat Nash, and Smoke Wallin.

Hot off the press, Meg Miller Ham of Huntersville, NC, has been appointed as a member of the board of directors of Tractor Supply Company, the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the U.S. She has worked for 35 years in the retail industry and has served as the president of Food Lion since 2014. Previously, she served on the board of directors for the Network of Executive Women and for Easter Seals. Meg cares deeply about serving the community.

Big news from Colorado: Husch Blackwell has added Erik Dullea as a partner in their Denver office. Previously, he was the acting deputy associate general counsel for the National Security Agency’s cybersecurity practice group. He currently lives in Littleton, CO.

Turning our focus to the stage, Misha Gonz-Cirkl is an actor, improviser, and writer. She wrote and performed in an original play, titled Hummingbird, a one-woman show, at the United Solo Festival in New York City this past fall.

David Trachtenberg ’88 completed his first Ironman in September.

Linda Rappe Lischer wrote in to let us know that she resides in Acton, MA, with her husband, Jeff ’86, PhD ’93, and their two cats. Their son, Ollie, graduated from high school and is enjoying his gap-year experience. Linda works at a specialty kitchen store. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, gardening, and scrapbooking.

Christy Brown Teal of Alexandria, VA, co-authored a new book, titled No Longer Radical, about understanding breast cancer detection, prevention, and treatment options. She is an associate professor of surgery, the director of the Breast Care Center, and chief of breast surgery at George Washington University.

David Trachtenberg celebrated his 29th wedding anniversary to Jennifer (Brooks) ’89. He completed his first Ironman in September at Jones Beach, close to his home in Manhasset Hills, NY. Congratulations, David! He’s currently a physician working in Brooklyn in an academic hospital where he enjoys teaching medical interviewing to third-year medical school clerks.

Across the U.S., on the West Coast, Eric Gorovitz has been living in Northern California for 30 years. He raised two kids in Berkeley, CA. His daughter got hired in the California State Legislature in Sacramento and his son is waiting to hear if his girlfriend got admitted to medical school in Philadelphia. Eric got remarried in 2021 and now lives in a rural seaside community near the picturesque village of Mendocino, CA. He travels occasionally to his office in San Francisco. Otherwise, he works remotely from home, watching the whales go by. What a terrific lifestyle, Eric!

Living in Minnesota’s Twin Cities for the past 17 years, Debbie Brown has enjoyed departing corporate life to go out on her own, working for herself doing consulting in occupational safety and health. Now, she has additional time to pursue her other interests and hobbies. She’s traveling again, most recently to Scotland and Alaska. She volunteers for her local Audubon Society chapter and spends a lot of her free time gardening and enjoying the great outdoors. As Debbie says, “Life is good!”

Some of our other fellow ’88s say hello to everyone from near and far. Elena Prato Victoria sends greetings to all from Boyds, MD. Lynne Pascual says “Aloha” to all her fellow classmates from Honolulu, HI, where she works as a sales specialist. Virginia Giddings, ME ’89, is residing in Irvine, CA, a part of beautiful Southern California. And lastly, Amy Bierman Abrams chimed in to say hello from Mahopac, NY.

It’s not too early to start counting down the days until we meet up in Ithaca again to celebrate our 40th Reunion. That’s all for now. ❖ Pamela Darer Anderson (email Pam) | Alumni Directory.

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1989

Hooray, our 35th Reunion lies ahead of us, June 6–9! Have you carved out those dates in early June? Please consider joining us, especially if you have never returned to campus. Along with the fun, our Reunion gives us time to reflect and pause to be thankful for all the good we experienced at Cornell (and perhaps let go of any unpleasant memories). My husband of 35 years, Michael McGarry, and I plan to come and participate; I hope to see you there!

Dale Novick writes that her college-aged kids are “thriving at university in Florida and Texas,” and it is those kids, along with her dogs, her work, and living near the ocean in Southampton, NY, that keep her “busy and grounded.” Dale studied art history on the Hill and said her favorite class was astronomy. “I adored the three astronomy classes I took, which had an influence on my sensitivity to the universe, the colorful plethora of stars and planets.” Dale creates future heirlooms “with colorful gemstones housed in handmade designs. I sell internationally and have a strong presence in the editorial space. My brand partnered with Moda Operandi, Ralph Lauren, Kirna Zabête, and Atelier d’Emotion. You can find my work at my website and on Instagram (@dalenovickltd)!”

Classmate Mark Michael is the head of mortgage finance for Bank of America. Mark gets the most satisfaction from “my family, friends, my golf game, and our place on the vineyard. Deidre (Hubbard) ’90 and I celebrated 31 years of marriage this year; our son Sean graduated from Stanford with honors, daughter Catie ’25 worked hard over the summer and is a junior in ILR, and our youngest, Colin ’27, started at Dyson this fall.” Mark quips that his good memories from the Hill are “too many to recount!”

John Zecca is the chief legal, risk, and regulatory officer for Nasdaq; John writes that mentoring young lawyers gives him the greatest satisfaction in this season of life. His favorite Cornell memory is the experience of a semester of Cornell in Washington because it convinced him to move to D.C. John proudly reported the joy of being a “girl dad,” which describes proud fathers who lean into the fun and frivolity that having daughters brings to life! (More on that later.)

“I love New York,” reports Heather Alexander, an English major on the Hill. “I worked as Prof. Alison Lurie’s research assistant for her book Don’t Tell the Grown-Ups. Cornell’s Career Center helped me land my first job in children’s publishing and I have been an editor and author ever since, with over 70 titles published.” See more at her website and learn more about her latest, Only In New York: Weird and Wonderful Facts About The Empire State. It scales skyscrapers, discovers where chicken nuggets originated (Cornell University), catches up with Shark Girl, and learns how Campbell’s came up with their iconic soup can color (Cornell, again!). Check out the dedication, where she honors her friends from Cornell! This sounds like a perfect gift for a child, or someone who is a child at heart. I am a lifelong resident of the state, and after reading it I love New York even more!

What a memory we made, throwing candy to kids from a classic convertible on an autumn evening!

Lauren Kidder McGarry ’89

We took different paths, but Suzanne Brebbia Zuidema and I both majored in human development and family studies during our years on the Hill. She describes herself as an educator primarily; however, her career includes much more than classroom teaching. Recently she looked to expand her skill set and completed her second master’s degree at Columbia University’s Teachers College. (She completed her first one from there in 1991 in early childhood special education.) Suzanne is visibly passionate about improving the lives of vulnerable children and their families worldwide through providing education even in emergencies, like when families are displaced by war. Last year, she put it to use during a nine-month stint in Poland as an education technical specialist, with Plan International. Suzanne worked with Polish educators to strategically meet the needs of internationally displaced persons, mostly women and children, flooding into Poland from Ukraine. In this “fragile context,” she focused on providing what the refugee children needed to learn, while also receiving support for the trauma many had lived through as they fled. “Education in emergencies” is the term she explained for this type of intervention. While living in Poland, Suzanne attended virtually biweekly briefings from the United Nations on the regions of Poland, Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine. She explains that one of the most difficult things to address is the expectation for both the displaced person and the support provider that “this emergency, war, or crisis will be over quickly and they will go back home—and it never happens quickly.”

Lastly, I will brag on Michael McGarry, who will not do it himself. He recently received the honor of being inducted into his high school athletic hall of fame; he was a three-sport varsity athlete in high school and nearly 40 years later, still holds receiving records in football. (Other than fishing, he currently is a two-sport athlete who plays ice hockey in the winter and baseball, both hitting and pitching “the little egg,” during the rest of the year.) A full day of festivities celebrated Mike and two other inductees. Peg McGarry, his mom and fellow athlete, flew out from Arizona with her golf clubs. Peg joined her son for his hall of fame golf tournament followed by a parade through their small town of Springville, NY, a football game, and a ceremonial dinner. What a memory we made—Peg, Michael, one of our three children, and me—throwing candy to kids from a classic convertible on an autumn evening in their hometown!

Thank you to all who sent news. We would love to hear from more of you! You can submit news here or email your contributions to any one of your correspondents: ❖ Lauren Kidder McGarry (email Lauren) | Stephanie Bloom Avidon (email Stephanie) | Kris Borovicka Gerig (email Kris) | Anne Czaplinski Treadwell (email Anne) | Alumni Directory.

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1990s

1990

Happy New Year, classmates! I hope you all enjoyed the holidays, and I wish you and your families a 2024 that is filled with health, happiness, and peace.

2023 closed with many of our classmates having achieved impressive professional accomplishments over the year. This column highlights just a few examples shared by classmates.

Peter Gant, ME ’91, joined the Investment Banking division of Stephens, an independent financial services firm, as a managing director and head of technology in its Dallas office. Announcing Peter’s hire, the firm shared in a press release on Business Wire that “Peter brings a unique and highly complementary skill set to the Stephens platform. We are excited to have an investment banker of his caliber and reputation on the team.” Peter has worked for many years in investment banking focused on the software industry and, in addition to his multiple Cornell degrees, obtained his MBA from UC Berkeley. Of this recent career move, Peter said, “I am excited to join the Stephens team, as they have built a rapidly growing investment banking franchise with a great reputation, a collaborative culture, and a commitment to build lasting client relationships, which presents a great opportunity to further build momentum for Stephens in the technology sector.”

Kendal Harr, DVM ’95, is “happily working as director of veterinary clinical pathology at Seagen Inc. in Bothell, WA, soon to be taken over by Pfizer.” A recent empty nester, Kendal is “enjoying hiking and agility with the dogs and fishing and enjoying our boat on Puget Sound.” She spent this past Thanksgiving with her freshman year roommate, Kim Atherton Kramer, and Kim’s husband on their farm in New York State.

Juli Dritz Cialone is a founder and director of Rock n’ Rescue, a nonprofit pet rescue organization in South Salem in Westchester County, NY, whose mission is “not just to rescue pets but to rescue people. They are known for their therapeutic programs (offsite and adoptive), which they hope to expand with the opening of a new therapy center in 2024 in Bedford Hills, NY. This center would not just be for pet adoptions (and hopefully a spay/neuter clinic) but also for pet therapy—serving children and adults of all ages. It will be a ‘wellness’ center where animals—especially cats—will be on hand for psychotherapists to utilize. They will have pet yoga, music and art classes, and guest lecturers, and will use the space to have help groups for people suffering from loss, suicide, transitions, etc. A truly remarkable and unique space!” Best of luck to Rock n’ Rescue in expanding to achieve these important goals for pets and people.

Have any career news of your own to share? Or a 2024 New Year’s resolution you are working toward? Please share your news with us! ❖ Nancy Solomon Weiss (email Nancy) | Allan Rousselle (email Allan) | Rose Tanasugarn (email Rose) | Alumni Directory.

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1991

Greetings, Class of ’91! Ruby Wang Pizzini here, your Glen Ridge, NJ-based class correspondent. As I write this, I’m taking a much-needed breather from traveling around the U.S. with my son, Milo, who competes in U.S. Tennis Association Junior Tournaments. A highlight of these road trips was a chance for him play at Cornell’s own Reis Tennis Center (an experience second only to qualifying for the National Clay Court Championships in Dothan, AL, according to him, LOL).

Now for news from some of our classmates. Janice Anne Wheeler writes that after 25 years in Colorado and five in New York, she is living her best life aboard a 1934 sailing yacht, exploring the eastern U.S. and Caribbean. This fall, Janice and her husband, Steven Uhthoff, will depart for a five-year odyssey. Having unexpectedly penned two very personal memoirs and three biographies over the course of a single year, Janice says the stories now just flow! Watch for her new book at her website.

Not to be outdone in the writing department, Marc Polymeropoulos, MPA ’92, shares that after retiring from the CIA in 2019, he, too, wrote a book. Clarity in Crises: Leadership Lessons from the CIA is available in audiobook and hardcover at your local library and for purchase online. You may have seen Marc on MSNBC and “Morning Joe” commenting as an expert on national security. He enjoys traveling around the country for keynote speeches on leadership and foreign policy, watching his son play college baseball, and generally spending most of his free time with his wife, Cynthia Saddy, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Janice Anne Wheeler ’91 is living her best life aboard a 1934 sailing yacht, exploring the eastern U.S. and Caribbean.

Judi Heichelheim tells us that she currently lives in the Washington, DC, area, where she continues to work in the global health arena, most recently on a contract focused on the global health supply chain. She and husband Vladimir Bogachev have two children: Alex is studying at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Polina is 13 and an eighth grader. Besides having fun connecting with other Cornellians in D.C. through the affable Tony Chen ’12, Judi enjoys spending time in her garden, exploring new foods, and taking long walks exploring local beauty in D.C. and in her travels, especially to the Asturias and the Basque Country in Spain.

Congratulations to Bob Baca, who just completed 25 years with the federal government, most of them with the Department of Agriculture, where he worked on combatting invasive species and illegal logging. Another part of his work is representing U.S. interests at the Montreal Protocol, a landmark international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer. Bob’s been with the treaty’s U.S. delegation for just over 10 years, which has taken him all around the world. If it all works out, he’ll be at the next treaty meeting, taking place in Nairobi, Kenya. You go, Bob!

Got news to share? Use the online news form or feel free to contact one of us directly: ❖ Ruby Wang Pizzini (email Ruby) | Wendy Milks Coburn (email Wendy) | Joe Marraccino (email Joe) | Evelyn Achuck Yue (email Evelyn) | Susie Curtis Schneider (email Susie) | Alumni Directory.

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1992

I (Wilma Ann Thomas Anderson) am so thrilled to continue my journey as a singer. I am still performing throughout the U.S. and Europe. I recently launched a Whitney Houston tribute show that started in New Jersey and made its way to Barcelona, Spain. The show will go on—so stay tuned! I am also putting the finishing touches on a book about my journey. You can find out what’s happening next via my social media links and you can follow me on Instagram!

Dave Wang shares, “My daughter just started her freshman year; I’m so proud of her accomplishments. I’ve been back on Cornell’s campus three times this year and so much has changed. I love the energy that courses through that place. I’m quickly approaching 20 years of owning my own brand strategy and design business. My gosh! Has it been that long? I can honestly say I love what I do! I bring together a specialized team of experts to solve any brand solution for my clients including visual identity, trend research, packaging and product development, website and digital experiences, and more. From AI to entertainment, food and beverage to finance, we work with Fortune 500 companies, startups, and individuals to move brands forward in today’s competitive environment. I just completed visual audits for UPS and Mack Trucks and am currently engaged on a new project with the National Park Foundation.” Seeing his three kids find success in different aspects of their lives brings Dave the most satisfaction these days.

Rey Hollingsworth Falu and Nicole Harris-Hollingsworth were remarried in Accra, Ghana, for their 30th wedding anniversary in August 2023. They met at a Steppin’ Out party in 1988 at Robert Purcell Union (now named Robert Purcell Community Center). Jabari Osaze ’94 and Anika Daniels-Osaze ’96 performed the ceremonies.

Lisa Nelson Rangel says, “We moved to Asbury Park, NJ, full time and I would love to connect with Cornellians in the area! I’m excited to pass the 14-year milestone as an entrepreneur with my executive resume writing business, Chameleon Resumes.” We send congratulatory cheers to Lisa on this article that featured her story as a first-gen student.

Paul Hamill is currently serving as president of the board of the Cornell Club of Colorado. “Thanks to the club’s amazing board of directors, we’re successfully rebuilding our in-person engagement with local Cornellians after the pandemic pause. Club activities this year included a fascinating guest lecture by CALS professors Larry Smart ’87 and Chris Smart, a lively summer picnic hosted by Pete ’99, ME ’00, and Meredith Glah Coors ’99, ski days, group hikes, volunteer events for Colorado nonprofit organizations, a new-student sendoff ice cream social, Zinck’s Night celebrations in Denver and Colorado Springs, awarding a scholarship to a current Cornell student, and an epicurean holiday party in December 2023. Shout-out to our dedicated club board members! We encourage all Cornellians in Colorado to participate by finding us on social media or by subscribing to Cornell’s alumni email list.”

Ted Ladd teaches entrepreneurship at Harvard and Hult. His recent book, Innovating With Impact, was published by the Economist.

Alli Frank says she is enjoying trail running, skiing, reading, writing, and the ocean and mountains. She is the co-author of three novels with Asha Youmans. Alli proudly exclaims, “We are one of the only Black/white co-authorships in the history of publishing.” She and husband Scott Pinizzotto built a net-zero house in Sun Valley, ID. Their daughters, 12 and 15, are very active and artistic. Alli says that finding a group of friends who continually inspire her to work hard and strive is her favorite Cornell memory.

Robert Kim is excited that he now has two sons at Cornell. His younger son started his freshman year in fall 2023 and joins his older brother, who is in the Class of 2025. Robert works at Ballard Spahr LLP as office managing partner, Las Vegas.

I recently launched a Whitney Houston tribute show that started in New Jersey and made its way to Barcelona, Spain.

Wilma Ann Thomas Anderson ’92

Gardening brings David Contiguglia the most satisfaction these days. His favorite memory is the COE Puerto Rico caving expedition of spring 1990. He touched down on Cornell’s evergreen (and snow white!) campus when he attended the 2023 graduation of his niece with her father, Carl Contiguglia ’89, MBA ’90.

Lisa Friedheim-Weis reported that after 26 years as an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board in Chicago, she was thrilled to be appointed an administrative law judge. There are only approximately 40 such judges in the country!

On The Sea Wall magazine will publish a portfolio of SoCal photography by Dylan Willoughby, MFA ’95. Dylan is also at work on a sci-fi novel and on the third Lost in Stars album. Congrats in advance on this book project! Dylan reminisced, saying he really enjoyed Cornell Rugby Football Club. “I have fond memories of Victory Club at Alpha Delt with Kristen Krzyzewski ’91.”

Eric Elbogen has a new book available, Violence and Mental Illness: Rethinking Risk Factors and Enhancing Public Safety. He says, “The book draws on a wide array of empirical data to expose how mental illness is vastly overemphasized in popular discussion of mass violence, which in turn makes us all less safe.”

Debbra Klugewicz Keegan currently serves as medical director and lead physician for network development and recruitment. She is a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist with CCRM Fertility, a leading fertility practice in the U.S. and Canada. Debbra fondly remembers the lifelong friends she made and the summer between junior and senior year when she enjoyed Ithaca and Cornell without the added burden of classes! She cites family, friends, daily exercise, travel, cooking, and laughing as sources of satisfaction these days. Two adorable dogs keep her and her husband, Tom Nichols, busy as well. Tom is a teacher and percussionist. Their youngest child is in eighth grade and their oldest son is a sophomore at Michigan State. Debbra is proud to announce that daughter Delaney Keegan will attend Cornell as a member of the Class of ’28. She was recruited by Coach Andy Smith to play field hockey for the Big Red. “We could not be more thrilled, and Coach Smith has catapulted the Cornell field hockey program into the top 20!”

In November, Penelope Wint, Evan Frazier, and Alfred Watts ’91 returned to Cornell to attend the 34th National Society of Minorities in Hospitality conference, which had not been held there since 1994. They (along with Michael Burkeen ’91, BS ’95, who passed in 2020) are the co-founders of the student-run organization that seeks to educate, encourage, and empower minority students in the hospitality field. Penelope said it was a great honor to be asked to speak at the gala. It was inspiring to talk with students from across the country and encourage them. Her son now attends Cornell, so she has lots of opportunities to visit, but “this was very nostalgic to be at the conference at Cornell with lifelong friends!”

Cornell keeps bringing us back—through events, affinity groups, children and relatives who now attend, organizations we’ve founded, or simply just to visit and see what new buildings are popping up. Hail, all hail, Cornell! You can send in news via the online news form or directly to any of us. Wishing you joy and wellness. ❖ Wilma Ann Thomas Anderson (email Wilma Ann) | Jean Kintisch (email Jean) | Sarah Ballow Clauss (email Sarah) | Alumni Directory.

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1993

Happy New Year, Class of ’93! Let’s make it a great year.

Chad Oppenheim is the founder of Oppenheim Architecture, a global design practice with diverse clients across five continents. Established in 1999, the practice has studios in Miami, FL, and Basel, Switzerland, with a team of 40 architects, interior designers, planners, and technicians. The Basel office is led by Swiss architect Beat Huesler ’92, Chad’s longtime friend.

Oppenheim Architecture has received over 90 awards, including more than 60 from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), as well as a National Design Award from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. According to their website, “As architectural archeologists, our work is highly attuned to its site. We go beyond the bounds of conventional architectural production—studying people and cultures, technologies and materials, psychologies and experiences—to create buildings and spaces that connect people with the spirit of place.”

Chad has lectured widely and taught at various architecture schools, including Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and, most recently, Cornell’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. He has published two books: Spirit of Place (2019), a monograph about the practice featuring seven award-winning projects, and Lair: Radical Homes and Hideouts of Movie Villains (2019), an academic investigation into the cultural associations of modernist design with villainy in cinema.

Diane Gale Whiffen and her husband, Gregory, PhD ’95, sent us news about their daughter, Ella Whiffen ’27, who is excited to be at Cornell. She loves Ithaca and the campus and is making the most of her time there. She is studying in the College of Arts and Sciences. ❖ Theresa Flores (email Theresa) | Melissa Hart Moss, JD ’97 (email Melissa) | Mia Blackler (email Mia) | Alumni Directory.

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1994

When prompted for her favorite Cornell memory, Carrie Leffler Wofsy wrote, “I love the strong friendships I made there.” Carrie recently reunited with former roommate Lori DiLorenzo Buszkiewicz and good friend Amy Masnick, PhD ’99, and was also happy to celebrate Nicole Vantuno Wagner’s 50th birthday. A social worker in New Jersey, Carrie works with children and adolescents for Atlantic Health System.

Speaking of lasting friendships, save the date for our 30th Reunion! We’ll be gathering on the Hill June 6–9, 2024, and we would love to see you there! I promise the weather will be perfect—and all of us will look fabulous.

Suzanne Granville Blokzyl’s favorite memories of Cornell also include meeting her best friends. (Like many of us, she fondly remembers swimming in the gorges and living in Collegetown too.) Suzanne checked in from Georgia, where she works as the fitness and wellness coordinator for Cherokee Town and Country Club. When asked what brings her the most satisfaction these days, she answered, “Spending time with my boys and sweet goldendoodle, watching my extended family grow, and helping members achieve their wellness goals.”

Ken Li is also helping people achieve their goals. When he’s not working as a career and life coach, Ken is busy raising a toddler with wife Ginger and playing tennis in Chesterton, IN.

Seth Stuhl updated us from Brooklyn, where he lives with husband Ricky: “I was promoted to head of Disney Theatrical Productions’ business affairs and legal counsel department as senior vice president. There’s never a dull moment, given our business covers everything from Broadway to our global productions to your kids’ school production of Frozen Jr. I also recently saw Jason Saculles, Jenna Saidel Lebowich, and Tai Kuo, and had lunch with one of my favorite industry buddies, Jessica Malkin ’95, BS ’96. Onward to our 30th (!) Reunion!”

Speaking of Jason Saculles, he recently took a new position as marketing program director at Inspira Financial in the Chicago area.

I live in Paris with my wife and our two cats, who love eating French cheese as much as we do!

Jason Gardner ’94

Margot Vigeant and Steve Stumbris wrote in September: “I want to share that we are very much not headed into retirement just yet. I’m a professor of chemical engineering at Bucknell U., and this academic year, I’m interim provost for the university. Steve is still the director of the Small Business Development Center and has recently picked up a monthly TV show—“Keystone Business”—with the public TV station WVIA. We are looking forward to visiting the Hill to see my godson, Aidan McNay ’24, and his rocket team as he starts his senior year at Cornell.”

More news from academia: Not far from our alma mater, producer and filmmaker Leah Shafer, PhD ’08, is associate professor of media and society at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY. Leah earned the trifecta of a BA, MA, and PhD at CU! Among her interests are television history, advertising, visual culture, and digital media.

Keep an eye out for another alumni title, coming out in February 2024. Jason Gardner dropped us a line from the City of Light, where he has been living for the past seven years. “I’m happy to announce that I’m going to be publishing my second photography book, titled We the Spirits, a result of more than 13 years of personal work in 15 countries, documenting traditional Carnival masquerades around Europe, Africa, and the Americas. I live in Paris with my wife, Carrie, and our two cats, Butch and Sundance, who love eating French cheese as much as we do! In general, we’re living a somewhat typical expat life, with friends from around the world, and we do get to travel a good amount as Paris is a great hub; we are also exploring France and its many excellent wine-growing regions.”

As always, we look forward to hearing your news and sharing your latest and greatest! ❖ Dika Lam (email Dika) | Dineen Pashoukos Wasylik (email Dineen) | Jennifer Rabin Marchant (email Jennifer) | Alumni Directory.

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1995

It’s my party and I’ll write (about it) if I want to … Actually, it wasn’t just my party. It was a big 50th birthday bash for me and two classmates—Agnes Varga Wells and Marisol Barrero­­, MS ’01—who share a birthday one day before mine in October. All three of us are Cornell Class of ’95 New York/New Jersey transplants living in Northern Virginia—how could we not mark this milestone together and with other classmates (some of whom came down from New York/New Jersey to celebrate with us)?

Among the partygoers were Cornellians Matthew French, ME ’96, Stephanie Lessans Geller, Russ Levitan, Vincent Bertomeu, Thy Nguyen Cavagnaro (who traveled down from New Jersey), Esther Cohen Bezborodko ’94 (who came from New York), Lisa Brannigan Rodvien ’96, and Keely Dunaway ’96.

Steph, Russ, Vin, and Matt were all floormates in U-Hall 3 freshman year. Stephanie now lives in Baltimore, MD, where she has been the director of Community Wealth Builders since 2016. Its mission is to foster more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable neighborhood economies by promoting community wealth-building models and strategies across Baltimore. Russ, who lives in Northern Virginia, is a strategist, customer/market analytics for Nestlé Infant Nutrition. Vin (also in Northern Virginia) is an optometrist at MyEyeDr. And Matt continues his engineering and computer science work as a manager and project lead for the University of Southern California’s Information Sciences Institute East Coast division in Arlington, VA.

As for the birthday girls—Aggie works for the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, DC, as an unemployment insurance program specialist. Marisol recently started a new position as technical director, ergonomics and manufacturing technology at Liberty Mutual. And me: by the time you read this, I’ll have just celebrated the 10th anniversary of my consulting company, Alto Solutions LLC! This has certainly been a big year for me and my family (Matt and I also celebrated our 20th anniversary this past summer).

Alas, not much other news to report this time around. But in case you missed it, classmate Isela Hernandez was featured in Cornell’s Women in Entrepreneurship Spotlight in September 2022. She is the founder of HERNÁN, a brand of premium Mexican culinary products.

And please let me know how you all celebrated your milestone birthdays—I’d love to feature some of them in the column in the months ahead. 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

Happy New Year! Please take a moment to write to us. What is a typical day in your life like? Is anything new happening with your family? Have you read any good books lately? We’d love to hear from you. ❖ Marjorie Polycarpe Jean-Paul (email Marjorie) | Catherine Oh Bonita (email Catherine) | Janine Abrams Rethy (email Janine) | Alumni Directory.

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1997

I hope one of your New Year’s resolutions is to write to your class correspondents! Have you marked a career milestone or taken a trip recently? Do you have a Big Red memory that would make your classmates smile? We would love it if you shared your news with us! ❖ Sarah Deardorff Carter (email Sarah) | Erica Broennle Nelson (email Erica) | Alumni Directory.

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1998

In 2023, our class celebrated our 25th Reunion in Cornell style! There are many treasured moments in our collective memory of our time on campus, and although we are no longer undergraduates, we continue to add snapshots of good times together into our collective Big Red heart. Once a Cornellian, always a Cornellian.

When Matthew Myers is not working on developing new technology, he spends time reading, running marathons, and riding. He shares, “My latest cycling ride is short, at just under 30 miles, but features 4K of vertical ascent and descent. It’s all about testing yourself against the elevation gains.” It’s no wonder that one of Matthew’s favorite Cornell memories is walking up the Slope and the many, many stairs on the way to and from classes. Matthew recently launched a new upcycled fashion company called Landfill Life Apparel, where all the pieces are handcrafted in the U.S. In addition to focusing on sustainability and upcycling of clothing items, rather than disposal, the brand focuses on reversing the ill effects of 20 million tons of fast fashion items that end up in landfills. Landfill Life Apparel was featured in San Francisco Fashion Week and Eco Fashion Week. Matthew is currently restoring a house from the 1800s. With the intricate craftsmanship and the detailed woodworking, the house and all its features are both inspiring and challenging to replicate.

Pietro Cipriano shares, “Jennifer (Magazian) and I will be celebrating 23 years of marriage this August, as well as completing our 13th year of owning Copia Home and Garden in Vista, NY. In addition to our garden center, we have expanded to more vegetable and plant production at our new farm in the center of the hamlet. We also have spearheaded the Vista Hamlet Stewardship Council, a 501(c)(3) community organization.” Pietro and Jennifer have two children, Isabella ’24 and Peter ’26, both studying at Cornell; Isabella, a biological sciences major, will be graduating early after one winter course while Peter is studying animal science in his pursuit to become a veterinarian. Pietro adds, “We are beyond proud, and we all want ‘to do the greatest good.’ GO BIG RED!”

Thank you for sharing your latest news with our class. We want to hear from you! Please email me or fill out our online news form. ❖ Uthica Jinvit Utano (email Uthica) | Alumni Directory.

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1999

Hello, Class of ’99! If you haven’t sent us news in a while, please take a moment to fill out a form. We’d love to hear from you! ❖ Class of 1999 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2000s

2000

Hello, there. I hope everything is going well, wherever you are. I want to share some news of your fellow alumni. Cornellians are impacting the world!

Ben Greenblatt, ME ’01, has been appointed director of embedded design and machine intelligence for SRC Inc. As director, he will lead a group of engineers specializing in machine learning, artificial intelligence, high-speed real-time software development, and design of custom circuit cards for signal processing and control of radars, as well as electronic warfare systems.

With more than 20 years of service at SRC, Ben has held several technical and managerial roles. In his previous role as director of strategy and technology in engineering, he was responsible for ensuring engineering has the capabilities, skills, technologies, and tools to support the business.

In addition to his responsibilities as a director, Ben serves as lead for the senior technologist team, a group of engineers at the pinnacle of their respective disciplines. He also leads the collaborative labs initiative, one of four strategic corporate initiatives at SRC, which has evolved into our digital transformation initiative.

Ben is a past recipient of the Technology Alliance of Central New York’s Young Technologist of the Year award. He holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering from Cornell University.

Kent Davis-Packard founded Women Forward International, a global nonprofit that partners academic teams with outside organizations on action research to advance women. They are launching a shared abundance food rescue program in Veracruz, Mexico, focused on women and girls, and a training center for women weavers of the ancient tradition of Himroo in India! Learn more here.

Have news? Contact me or share through the online news form. ❖ Denise Williams (email Denise) | Alumni Directory.

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2001

Now that we’re through the crazy holiday season, I hope that everyone’s 2024 is off to a great start. After all the excitement in December, the real winter season is upon us. While the days are shorter and colder (depending on where you live), it’s a great time to map out goals for the new year and enjoy time indoors with friends and family. My family loves to go skiing when we can find a weekend free of the kids’ ice hockey games. You always have to try to make the most of the snow in the Northeast.

Between Christmas and New Year’s, we went skiing at Okemo Mountain in Vermont with Ari ’02 and Meredith Silverman Fontecchio ’02 and their family, as well as Jeff Ciccone and his family. We enjoyed the outdoors during the day and hung out by the fireplace at night. Our crew of kids span a wide range of ages from 3 years old to 13 years old, but they all get along well and have become great little skiers.

In January, we took a trip to Pittsburgh for our sons’ combined hockey tournaments and had the chance to visit Thomas ’00 and Megan Cunningham Kavanaugh. They’ve been in Pittsburgh for the past 8 years and have twin sons who are turning 11 years old soon. It was great to get together with longtime friends and catch up.

We also took a trip to Florida to visit (relatively) newly married Sven Jensen ’02 and his wife, Emily, at their home in Boca Raton. They recently migrated back to the East Coast from San Francisco and have settled in Florida following their beautiful wedding last summer in Milwaukee.

When was the last time you set foot on campus, and at what time of year? Although she’s attended all three of our in-person June Reunions since graduation, plus her own July 2006 Sage Chapel wedding to Salil Gupte, Nicole (Neroulias) had not experienced an Ithaca autumn since Homecoming 2001 (memories of which are dwarfed by her and Ali Solomon Mainhart getting stranded near the Roscoe Diner on the way back to NYC). After this 22-year autumnal absence, she finally made it all the way back there from Delhi, India, at the end of September.

The United Hospital Fund presented Zachary Iscol ’01 with their Distinguished Community Service Award for his work co-founding the Headstrong Project.

“I drove through a Downstate deluge, the sun came out around Binghamton, and then I was ‘home’ again,” she writes. “It was magical to walk around some familiar spots, see the leaves starting to change, and breathe in that fresh hilltop air. Oh, and spend a good chunk of change at the Cornell Store, though, to be fair, some of it was for Cornellians in India and Cyprus!” Check out our Facebook group and new Class of 2001 Instagram page for her photos, including selfies with classmates and fellow Big Red Band alumni Michael Hanson, MPA ’02, Heather O’Dell, and Amy Quan ’00. Nicole concludes that they remembered an old saying, “The football team may lose, but the band always wins.”

The week after, Joe ’99, MBA ’05, and Peggy Imboden Salsbury, MS ’05, drove from their home in Connecticut to Cambridge, MA, to watch Cornell play Harvard in football. They enjoyed visiting historic Harvard stadium with their five children, ages 9 to 17, and listening to the Cornell Marching Band, of which they are alums. The game did not go in Cornell’s favor, but again the band always wins!

Back in NYC, the United Hospital Fund presented Zachary Iscol with their Distinguished Community Service Award for his work co-founding the Headstrong Project, which provides confidential and stigma-free PTSD treatment to veterans, service members, and family connected to their care. A decorated combat veteran who served in the U.S. Marines, Zach has been close to the devastating trend of U.S. veterans dying by suicide—at a rate estimated to be as high as 44 deaths per day. Recognizing the clear mental health crisis among his fellow veterans, Zach co-founded the Headstrong Project in NYC in 2012. The organization has expanded to 15 states and now provides free mental health care to 1,400 clients per month. Drawing on his Cornell connections, Headstrong began through a partnership with Weill Cornell Medicine.

The mental health emergency among veterans is not the first crisis that Zach has stepped up to face head on. During the pandemic, he was tapped to be deputy director of the temporary hospital inside the Javits Center, one of the largest field hospitals in the country. In his current role as emergency management commissioner, he leads a 300-person department tasked with making sure New Yorkers stay safe and healthy before, during, and after all types of citywide emergencies. Zach enjoys connecting with other Cornellians in the NYC area.

To share news 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

Happy New Year! Please take a moment to write to us. What is a typical day in your life like? Is anything new happening with your family? Have you read any good books lately? We’d love to hear from you. ❖ Class of 2002 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2003

Christine Bullard Stellar writes, “I’m excited to announce I was appointed chief development officer of Boston-based nonprofit United South End Settlements (USES). I’ve spent the vast majority of my career in kid- and family-facing organizations and am thrilled to be continuing that work at USES as we raise critical funds and awareness for incredible programs that lift families out of poverty. From USES’ leadership to its classroom teachers, to all the administrative and support staff, I’m inspired by the team’s love for and commitment to strengthening the community as a whole by supporting the families and children that live in it.” Congratulations, Christine, and good luck in this new venture!

We wish you a happy and healthy 2024, and hope you will send us a news form as soon as you finish reading this column! ❖ Jon Schoenberg, ME ’03, PhD ’11 (email Jon) | Candace Lee Chow, PhD ’14 (email Candace) | Alumni Directory.

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2004

Solomon Garber writes, “I am living in Manhattan with our sons, Pierce, 7, and Bram, 9. My wife, Sarah, is the chief people officer for Saks and two years ago I founded Erithmitic, a financial services platform that reimagines commercial real estate lending. Richard Chung is our chief technology officer and we get advice from my freshman-year roommate, Krish Eswaran ’03. I traveled to Boston with family this summer and we got to go on the field at Fenway Park before a Red Sox game!” Solomon’s fondest memory of his time on the Hill? “Dinner conversations at Jansen’s on West Campus with my new freshman-year friends.”

Ryane Englar, DVM ’08, is a founding faculty member at University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine. She writes, “I am passionate about advancing education for generalists by thinking outside the box to develop new course materials for the hands-on learner. Most recently, I have turned my attention to the study of bereavement and how the veterinary profession can support the bereaved.” Ryane has created a line of empathy cards called Putting Yourself in Their Paws. “Our broader goal is to serve all healthcare professionals and community members, families, friends, and neighbors by providing essential resources that can extend support to the bereaved. The loss of any loved one is impactful, and survivors benefit from support after loss. Empathy cards from our collection have been designed to extend reach to a diverse population of mourners who may be experiencing loss in a variety of ways.”

Ronya Foy Connor, MPA ’05, recently won the 2023 Sol Linowitz Award from the National Security Education Program (NSEP), a Department of Defense-funded program that strengthens national security through critical language and cultural initiatives. Ronya re-joined the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Office of Press and Public Diplomacy, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 to assist with the newly formed Rapid Response Unit. Her work contributed to campaigns to promote solidarity with Ukraine and counter Russian disinformation. The Sol Linowitz Award is named in honor of Ambassador Sol Linowitz, a former diplomat and supporter of international education. The award is given annually to a Boren Fellow whose contributions advance NSEP’s mission and U.S. national security. Ronya, a 2011 Boren Fellow to Tanzania, was recognized at the NSEP 30th Anniversary Gala in September for her outstanding contributions.

And congratulations to Eugene Cobble Jr., PhD ’04, who we heard has recently joined the Institute for Defense Analyses as a research staff member. ❖ Jessi Petrosino (email Jessi) | Alumni Directory.

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2005

I hope one of your New Year’s resolutions is to write to your class correspondents! Have you marked a career milestone or taken a trip recently? Do you have a Big Red memory that would make your classmates smile? We would love it if you shared your news with us! ❖ Hilary Johnson King (email Hilary) | Jessica Rosenthal Chod (email Jessica) | Alumni Directory.

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2006

Hello, Class of 2006! I hope everyone is enjoying the colder weather. Though the days are shorter, there’s no shortage of memories being made right now with you and your family. We’re pleased to share the latest news with you.

Ian and Susie Lee Chiang, ME ’07, just celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary. Congratulations! In the past 10 years, they moved from the New York metropolitan area to Greater Boston and are now comfortably enjoying a “quiet life” in the suburbs. Currently Susie is working at State Street Bank and Ian is at Flare Capital Partners. They have two children, Joanna and Lincoln. Ian says they’ve “brainwashed” their children to root for New York sports teams and the Cornell Big Red. After attending two Cornell hockey games this year, “Joanna told us she would rather go to Cornell and not Harvard.” We couldn’t agree more! Susie and Ian miss all things Cornell and look forward to visiting to show Joanna and Lincoln the beautiful campus.

What’s new in your world? We’d love to hear more about you, your family, and what you’ve been up to lately. Please share your news with us! ❖ Kirk Greenspan, MBA ’22 (email Kirk) | Alumni Directory.

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2007

Happy New Year, Class of 2007! Looking forward to new beginnings and rekindling old memories. Thanks, once again, for allowing me to be part of your journeys. Anyone making resolutions this year?

Last fall, Bryan Ricchetti, PhD ’07, was promoted to principal at Cornerstone Research, an economic and financial consulting firm. He co-heads Cornerstone Research’s antitrust and competition practice and serves on the firm’s board of directors. Bryan specializes in antitrust and labor matters, focusing on economic and statistical issues when assessing antitrust impact, market definition, market power, class certification, hiring and compensation decisions, and alleged discrimination. As an expert witness, Bryan has been retained to analyze questions of antitrust impact and damages and the pro-competitive effects of a horizontal agreement.

In March 2023, Jennifer D’Amato-Anderson, of Portland, OR, started a new position as animal nutrition manager at the Oregon Zoo. She oversees all items related to nutrition for the animals at the zoo. If an animal can or will eat it, then she has some involvement in some way. What a cool job!

Natalya Johnson, JD ’10, senior counsel with Johnson & Johnson’s legal department and immediate past president of the Garden State Bar Association, was named the New Jersey Law Journal’s Attorney of the Year at the New Jersey Legal Awards, hosted in East Brunswick. She is a legal advisor focused on employment law and manages employment-related litigations. Congratulations on this fantastic achievement and much-deserved recognition.

Looking forward to sharing more exciting stories with everyone this year. If you’re enjoying reading updates from our classmates, I’m sure others would love to hear from you as well! Have 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

Hello, Class of ’08! If you haven’t sent your news in a while, please take a moment to fill out a form. Your classmates would love to hear from you! ❖ Libby Boymel (email Libby) | Alumni Directory.

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2009

“I have some good news that I wanted to share,” writes Al Sierra Poyser. “I was selected to be a member of the Public Theater’s 2023–25 Emerging Writers Group! Playwrights were selected from more than 500 applicants. I am currently working as a playwright and actor in New York City. I recently purchased a desert ranch in Joshua Tree, CA, with plans on developing a retreat and artist residency program.”

What brings Al the most satisfaction these days? “My art, my family and friends—and my air fryer.” Fond memories of Cornell? “There are so many memories: sledding down Libe Slope on a mattress during the blizzard of ’07, watching ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and screaming and crying as a community with my floormates in Class of ’18 Hall, and numerous parties and time spent connecting with friends. But my most cherished memory is my first day on campus, the wonderment and possibility I felt that day.” Send us your news! ❖ Jason Georges (email Jason) | Alumni Directory.

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2010s

2010–11

Happy New Year! Please take a moment to write to us. What is a typical day in your life like? Is anything new happening with your family? Have you read any good books lately? We’d love to hear from you. ❖ Class of 2010–11 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2012

Owen Amadasun and Sheela George got married on August 19! They were surrounded by family, friends, and of course their fellow Cornellians. Congratulations!

Do you have any news to share? Please send it to us! ❖ Peggy Ramin (email Peggy) | Alumni Directory.

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2013

Kamillah Knight, MBA ’22, writes, “Stephan Spilkowitz ’10 and I just welcomed a new future Cornellian to complete our family of four. Koah was born on September 21, 2023 and is looking forward to being part of the Cornell Class of 2045!” Congratulations!

Please take a moment to send us your news! ❖ Rachael Schuman (email Rachael) | Alumni Directory.

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2014

Happy New Year, Class of 2014! It’s hard to believe we’re coming up on 10 years since graduation. We hope you have all marked your calendars and will join us for our 10th Reunion this June 6–9, 2024 in Ithaca.

This past fall, our classmate Alyssa Gagliardi Sleasman returned to Cornell to participate as a panelist for the student-moderated “RealTalk” alumni speaker series, where speakers share personal stories of upholding core values when facing challenges or compromise in the workplace. While at Cornell, Alyssa was a two-year team captain of the women’s hockey team and went on to play with the women’s national team from 2013­–16 and professionally from 2014–20 with the Boston Blades, Boston Pride, and Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association. Since her retirement from playing hockey, Alyssa has served in several coaching roles for girls’ youth hockey and men’s professional hockey. She is currently working in player development for the Rochester Jr. Americans, a nonprofit youth hockey organization in Rochester, NY.

Please send us your news to share. ❖ Samantha Lapehn Young (email Samantha) | Alumni Directory.

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2015

Daniel and Catherine Rieflin DeFlumeri were married on May 13, 2023 in Burlingame, CA. Catherine and Dan met on their very first day of Cornell in 2011 as they were both placed in the same freshman orientation group. Twelve years later they tied the knot in front of their family and friends, a third of whom are Cornell alumni. Their favorite memory of the day is taking a photo on the sprawling lawn of their wedding venue with a big Cornell flag and all their Cornellian wedding guests.

Irene Li ’12, BA ’15, a chef, author, and entrepreneur, was featured as part of the second annual “RealTalk” speaker series on October 13, where she joined Alyssa Gagliardi ’14 to discuss their personal experience both at Cornell and afterwards, and how they have been able to uphold their core values, even when facing challenges or compromise in the workplace. Irene is the owner of Mei Mei Dumplings in Boston and a six-time nominee for the James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef award. The event was hosted by the Gender Equity Resource Center and Delta Gamma sorority. ❖ Caroline Flax (email Caroline) | Mateo Acebedo (email Mateo) | Alumni Directory.

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2016–17

I hope one of your New Year’s resolutions is to write to us! Have you marked a career milestone or taken a trip recently? Do you have a Big Red memory that would make your classmates smile? Share your news here! ❖ Class of 2016­–17 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2018

Hello, Class of 2018! This month we have news from our 5th Reunion president, Shelby Holland. Shelby is currently living in L.A., where she just started a podcast with her sister Laura Holland ’22, called Sisters Who Watch. The podcast reviews entertainment, from movies to reality TV shows, giving the sisters’ perspectives and recommendations. After planning our Reunion in June, Shelby spent her summer road tripping along the West Coast, hosting game nights, trying new restaurants, and spending time with family and friends. “A highlight of my Cornell experience was taking filmmaking classes during my senior year,” she writes. “I learned so much, cultivated my creative side, and bonded with my classmates.”

What’s been going on with you? Send us news. ❖ Stephanie Yan (email Stephanie) | Alumni Directory.

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2019

“After graduation, I joined a startup and eventually started my own,” writes Runde Yang. “I have built products such as PandaGPT.io and Dreamore AI and achieved 200,000+ users and media features. Most recently, I have received funding from top venture capital firms such as Soma Capital and A16z.” Congratulations, Runde!

We’d love to hear what others of you are doing also—please take a moment to drop us a line with your news. ❖ Class of 2019 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2020s

2020

Xiaohan Jiang sent a short and sweet note: “I got married!” Congratulations! Anyone else out there have news to share? We’d love to hear from you! ❖ Class of 2020 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2021

Hello, Class of ’21! If you are reading this, we would love to hear from you! Please take a moment to fill out a news form. Have you marked a career milestone or taken a trip recently? Do you have a Big Red memory that would make your classmates smile? Share your news here! ❖ Class of 2021 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2022

Jeremy Scheck has written his first cookbook, Cooking Smarter, featuring “easy and delicious recipes for every day and beyond—plus expert tips to make you a better, happier cook.” In it, Jeremy shares the building blocks of what he calls “culinary literacy”: understanding why a recipe works and empowering readers to cook with confidence. His recipes—which are designed to minimize single-use ingredients and equipment (for example, all baking recipes are no-mixer-required)—include honey lemon chicken, Coca-Cola braised brisket, maple za’atar carrots, and pretzel blondies.

Jeremy lives in Brooklyn, NY. He got his culinary start while working at a bakery in high school, where he began developing his own recipes and sharing them on a blog. In 2020, Jeremy began creating instructional cooking videos to accompany his recipes, while studying Spanish, Italian, and various food science topics at Cornell. He has since garnered a following of over 2 million on TikTok and has been featured in numerous publications and broadcasts including People Magazine, the “Today” show, BuzzFeed, USA Today, and the Washington Post.

Valentina Xu is a global banking and markets analyst at Goldman Sachs, where she recently teamed up with a group of fellow analysts, including Brian Forness ’21, to take part in the global Goldman Sachs Gives 2023 Analyst Impact Fund Award competition. Teams who enter must identify, study, and ultimately pitch the work of a chosen nonprofit organization to Goldman Sachs leadership; the grand prize is $250,000 donated to that organization.

Though more than 300 teams entered this year, Valentina’s team made it to the final round and earned both second place and the “Fan Favorite” prize, which in total secured a grant of $125,000 for their chosen nonprofit, Trickle Up—which seeks to partner with women in extreme poverty and provide them with financial support, training, and mentoring to ensure they build sustainable livelihoods for themselves.

While at Cornell and in years prior, Valentina has been active in public service. Before starting at the Hotel School, she helped a Syrian refugee start a restaurant through US Together (a nonprofit based in the Midwest). On the Hill, she served on the Cornell Student Assembly and worked on lowering medicine prices and initiatives focused on mental health on campus. Outside of working at Goldman, she continues her passion of service through her own nonprofit, Bridging Pacific, which provides resources for underserved immigrants and builds communities with various nonprofits in New York City. ❖ Class of 2022 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2023

Happy New Year! Please take a moment to write to us. What is a typical day in your life like? Is anything new happening with you? We’d love to hear from you. ❖ Class of 2023 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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Grad

Agriculture & Life Sciences

After a 45-year career spanning television and radio, Dan Cummings, MPS ’83, was inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Dan, who retired from NewsChannel 9 in 2022, was honored alongside four other inductees at an October 2023 ceremony at the famed Rainbow Room in NYC. Over the course of his 38 years at the station—where he started as an assignment editor—Dan served as an anchor in nearly every time slot, most recently as a member of the morning news team. He hosted a weekly show, “Newsmakers with Dan Cummings,” and was a prominent local politics reporter; he served as a moderator for several high-profile political debates and covered countless elections. Among Dan’s many accolades are two Emmy Awards for his “Veterans Voices” series, as well as an Edward R. Murrow Award for his documentary on newly canonized saints in Italy. Born and raised in Central New York, Dan earned his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo before his grad years on the Hill.

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Architecture, Art & Planning

Stephenie Foster, MRP ’80, is excited to have published her second book: Feminist Foreign Policy in Theory and in Practice. “It’s the first book on this topic,” she writes, “which is an exciting and emerging topic in foreign policy and international relations.”

Danielle Arigoni, MRP ’97, made her literary debut in fall 2023 with Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation. In the book, the community resilience and housing expert examines the unique impacts of climate change on the 65+ population—and explores “age-friendly” processes for communities to better protect older adults. Danielle, who works as the managing director for policy and solutions at National Housing Trust, argues that—in the face of more frequent and severe natural disasters—society “cannot achieve true resilience until communities adopt interventions that work to meet the needs of their oldest residents.” Danielle previously served as director of livable communities for AARP and, before that, as director of the Office of Economic Resilience for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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Arts & Sciences

We heard from Margarita Haugaard—the daughter of Janet Haugaard, PhD ’80—about her mother’s newest book, Historical Tapestry: Adele France and John LaFarge in Southern Maryland, which was published by St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Janet, who has a master’s in English literature from New York University, taught at the University of Puerto Rico until 1987 before joining the staff of St. Mary’s as a writing instructor and assistant to the president. She became the college’s executive editor and writer three years later, and officially retired in 2008—at which time she finally got to work on her long-delayed Historical Tapestry book, which she wrote over the course of a decade.

Anne Foster, MA ’91, PhD ’95, recently announced the release of her latest book, The Long War on Drugs, published by Duke University Press. In it, Anne provides “a comprehensive overview of the ‘war on drugs,’ its failures and continued appeal, and the international consequences of U.S. drug policy,” according to the publisher. An associate professor of history at Indiana State University, Anne is also the author of Projections of Power: The United States and Europe in Colonial Southeast Asia, 1919–1941, and was the co-editor of The American Colonial State in the Philippines: Global Perspectives, both of which were also published by Duke University Press.

Dana Luciano, MA ’96, PhD ’99, announced the recent publication of her book, How the Earth Feels: Geological Fantasy in the Nineteenth-Century United States, by Duke University Press. In the book, Dana explores “the impacts of the new science of geology on 19th-century U.S. culture, showing how it catalyzed transformative conversations regarding the intersections between humans and the nonhuman world,” according to the publisher. A professor of English and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at Rutgers University, Dana also authored Arranging Grief: Sacred Time and the Body in Nineteenth-Century America.

Matthew Omelsky, MPS ’11, also had a book published by Duke University Press at the end of 2023. According to the publisher, Fugitive Time: Global Aesthetics and the Black Beyond “theorizes the embodied experience of time in 20th- and 21st-century Black art to outline the distinct utopian desire directed at the moment when pain vanishes from the body and mind, bringing with it a form of being that is free of the violence that has consumed Blackness.” Matthew is an assistant professor of English at the University of Rochester.

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Engineering

Sanjeev Sanghi, MS ’88, recently completed what he called “a very successful tenure” as the dean of alumni affairs and international programmes at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), where he is a professor of applied mechanics. During his time as dean, Sanjeev says he established an endowment fund for the school, with a fundraising goal of $1 billion. Sanjeev also recently completed his time as chair of the applied mechanics department at IIT, during which time he launched a new bachelor’s program in engineering and computational mechanics. Nowadays, he says, what brings him the most satisfaction is sharing his lectures on mechanics on his YouTube channel so he can reach students beyond the classroom. Looking back on his Cornell days, he reflects: “Classes taught by Steve Pope are still an inspiration for me.”

Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, ME ’90, was featured on the cover of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine for her work as president and CEO of Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Acheivement. The New Jersey-based nonprofit, which Ivonne has helmed for the past 15 years, works to connect young Hispanic students with professional role models—particularly in areas where Hispanics are traditionally underrepresented, such as STEM fields and executive C-suite positions. According to the article, Ivonne was fascinated with math as a child, but never thought about studying it until she met a Puerto Rican mathematician. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Universidad de Puerto Rico, and—in addition to her master’s in engineering on the Hill—she also holds a master’s in mathematics from the University of Maryland and a PhD in mathematics from Arizona State University.

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Human Ecology

Kate Bedding, MPA ’17, wrote in with some big news in fall 2023: she joined the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) as its diversity, equity, and inclusion program manager, a role based at the company’s headquarters in Alexandria, VA. The IDA, Kate writes, is “a nonprofit corporation that operates three federally funded research and development centers in the public interest.” She says the organization aims to answer difficult questions about U.S. security and science policy by providing “objective analysis leveraging extraordinary scientific, technical, and analytic expertise.” Prior to her grad studies on the Hill, Kate earned her bachelor’s in communication studies from Ithaca College.

The IDA gained more than just one Cornellian in 2023: Bethany Jones, MPA ’21, joined the team as an adjunct research associate for the organization’s joint advanced warfighting division in Alexandria, VA. Prior to earning her Cornell MPA, Bethany earned a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Belhaven University. She’s currently working toward a JD in national security and international law from the University of Richmond School of Law, and is a member of the Virginia Bar Association.

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Johnson Graduate School of Management

John Hui, MBA ’15, was recently honored with the Entrepreneur Award by the New Jersey Chinese-American Chamber of Commerce. John is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Twiage, a digital application focused on streamlining pre-hospital communication for emergency medical service arrivals. He’s also the chief development officer for Rendr, a physician group providing quality healthcare to NYC’s underserved Asian-American communities.

Congratulations to Brian Balduzzi, MBA ’18, who was selected as one of City & State Pennsylvania’s 40 Under 40 for 2023—an annual list honoring rising professionals who are making a difference across the Commonwealth. In his 40 Under 40 entry, Brian recalls losing his father at 19 and witnessing his mother navigate the complex world of estate planning. Now, at 36, Brian works as a private client services attorney with Philadelphia-based Faegre Drinker, and also teaches tax and estate planning for various higher education institutions. He also maintains a pro bono practice committed to legal issues faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and serves as vice president of the Cornell Pride LGBTQIA+ Alumni Association. He holds a JD and a master’s degree in tax law from Boston University.

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Law School

Robert Wright, JD ’50, celebrated his 100th birthday on January 9, 2024. Happy milestone birthday, Robert!

A big Cornellian congratulations to Nathan Khalil, JD ’02, on recently becoming a tenured faculty member at Santa Monica College. In addition to teaching a range of courses, including intellectual property law, Nathan serves as chair of the college’s Honor Council. He’s also the business faculty champion of SMC’s Law Pathway Program, which offers a range of engagement and advancement opportunities in the legal field for students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.

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Top image: Photo by Ryan Young / Cornell University

Published January 1, 2024