March / April 2026

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

1950s

1950

“I am still alive and moving on my own, 75 years after graduating from Cornell with a degree in Far Eastern studies,” writes David Cole (Westport Point, MA). “I spent much of my professional career teaching, at Vanderbilt and Harvard, about economic development, and advising governments, especially in South Korea and Indonesia but also at least a dozen other countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, as well as writing 10 books on economic issues in those countries.

“I have now been ‘retired’ for 25 years, living mainly on the South Coast of Massachusetts and trying to address major environmental issues such as water quality and climate change, especially development of offshore wind power off the New England coast. My wife, Betty Slade, and I have joined demonstrations in Washington, Boston, Fairhaven, and Westport—our hometown.” ❖ Class of 1950 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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1951–53

We don’t have any news from these classes to report this round—but we hope that will change in the future! Has your family grown? Have you read any good books lately? What kind of impact did your time at Cornell have on your life? If you have a moment, please send an email to us. ❖ Classes of 1951–53 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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1954

Louise “Lou” Schaefer Dailey traveled to Cuba in early 2025. An experienced class correspondent, Lou graciously sent us an account of her trip.

“In January 2025 I traveled to Cuba for the 15th Havana Biennial of Art. Our group of seven stayed in a hostel on Avenue Presidentes and each day after breakfast we boarded a small air-conditioned bus for the drive to Old Havana along El Malecón, the five-mile seawall/promenade along the waterfront. The city is amazing—a mixture of grand 19th-century palaces, some renovated in glory and some crumbling, next to modern skyscrapers. We were guided on a walking tour and through buildings and museums by a Cuban art historian and curator. We had lunch in a second-floor restaurant with impromptu entertainment by a Mocko Jumbie band parading in the street below.

“Dinners and lunches were varied—everything from a local seaside café to a chic contemporary restaurant with elegant food, service, and surroundings. One night we went to the Tropicana Club for the famous, spectacular show. Such costumes! Such dancing! Such a lot of rum! Wonderful people-watching!

“Another night we went to an international dance competition at the National Theatre of Cuba, a big, beautiful, modern auditorium. We sat behind a row of performers: 12- to 13-year-old girls wore red and white dresses, hair swept back in a tight bun. Mascara and lipstick for the performance, and all giggling and squirming with excitement at the appearance of another contestant—an 18- to 20-year-old American boy. He was a favorite!

“The days were filled with visits to museums, galleries, studios, workshops, and a craft center. We visited the National Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Contemporary Ceramics, the Superior Institute for the Arts, and, in Cathedral Square, the Wilfredo Lam Contemporary Art Center with experimental graphic workshops, prints for sale, and a 17th-century printing press (still working). The Superior Institute is the leading higher education art academy in Cuba and was established in 1961 in the former Havana Country Club and is a cluster of red brick-domed buildings and arched walkways. We were guided by the dean of visual arts. The buildings house classrooms and studios for sculpture, ceramics, and painting. Some artists were at work, and we were pleased to communicate, as best we could. And lastly, we did have a ride in a vintage car: mine was a 1954 Buick convertible.”

In January 2025 I traveled to Cuba for the 15th Havana Biennial of Art.

Louise “Lou” Schaefer Dailey ’54

Thank you, Lou, for sharing that. Almost as good as going there, but much less demanding of us. This class correspondent traveled more than usual in 2025, but I stayed in the States. A variety of purposes motivated my trips. A brief weekend in Tempe with a granddaughter who had moved there recently. A second brief weekend in Portland, ME, to celebrate the life of a dear friend from Binghamton: our friendship spanned 89 years!

Then a happy weekend in Nashville to celebrate an earlier wedding of another granddaughter. Time with my brother and the family at a tiny lake near Binghamton. (My grandfather and Jack Vail’s grandfather built cottages there in 1918!) These events are not earthshaking or newsworthy, but they reflect some of the moments in our lives which add meaning and help us maintain significant relationships. I hope you will share similar events from your lives.

In late October I managed to fly into Binghamton (down to one flight in and out daily) for a weekend focused on Cornell. Again I stayed with my brother, Charlie Carpenter ’59, MD ’63, and his wife, Sue. On October 25 we drove to Cornell for the dinner at which the annual Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Awards are presented. This year my brother-in-law, Bob Everett ’65, and his wife, Mary Jansen Everett ’66, were two of six recognized for outstanding service to Cornell. (Among other work, they support the women’s hockey team, together with their daughter Liz Everett Krisberg ’97, recently a Cornell trustee, and Liz’s husband, Brian.) A very happy celebration indeed. Fun to be in the Statler, but strange to be there without any ’54 classmates. I did speak briefly with Bill Gratz ’53.

Many of us are no longer able to travel, as Lou did or even as I did. We are fortunate to be able to communicate in ways our parents did not imagine. So I look forward to hearing from a few of you via email, texts, or even the phone. Another sign of the times: this fall, landline service to our building was terminated. Now I depend solely on my mobile phone—a bit of an adjustment. A few enterprising high school seniors come here occasionally to help us become better at managing our electronic devices. They call themselves Tech Talk. I like to think this is a good experience for them as well as for us. ❖ Ruth Carpenter Bailey (email Ruth) | Bill Waters, MBA ’55 (email Bill) | Class website | Alumni Directory.

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1955

I was given the job of writing a Class of 1955 news column last June at our 70th Reunion. I have been a writer since I wrote for my grade school “newspaper” in the sixth grade, in 1945. At Cornell I was an editor on the Daily Sun and did photography for the Cornell Alumni News.

I spent a career as a Washington correspondent for out-of-town newspapers, beginning with the Chicago American. When it folded I wrote for a succession of three western papers, retiring in 1991 when the last one was failing.

I covered presidents from Harry Truman to Bill Clinton. I was twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and in 1978 was given the Raymond Clapper Memorial Award by the White House Correspondents’ Association for investigative journalism.

After I left the newspaper game, I went to the Smithsonian Institution as its auto racing advisor. Since then I have written seven nonfiction books and done monthly columns for two magazines. In 1996 I moved down here to southeastern Virginia on Chesapeake Bay.

In 1978 I bought an antique Offenhauser racing car, restored it, and since have driven it in numerous vintage racing contests. In 1989 I drove it at the Bonneville Salt Flats to an international speed record for vehicles of under 2,000 cc displacement, going 153.198 mph, a record that still stands. It also holds the U.S. Midget record of 156.902 mph.

I held, for many years, a 100-ton U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license and for a time sailed a tall ship out of Alexandria, VA. Just sold our 30-foot sailboat, Brigadoon II, as Mary Anne and I are no longer quite steady enough on our feet to handle an at-sea emergency.

This is my first attempt with a Cornell class column, although I have done one for my graduate school class at Columbia University for 10 years, and I hereby solicit news from all ’55ers for future columns.

In the interest of Cornell 1955 nostalgia, let me recall a watering hole most of us visited during our days in Ithaca, but which no longer exists: the Clinton House Cocktail Lounge.

Gordon White ’55

Barbara Balsam Brown writes that her husband, Len, died in 2007 “after 51 wonderful years together.” In 2020 she sold the house and moved to Lantern Hill in New Providence, NJ, so that when she has to give up driving she will have a swimming pool right on the premises.

Stanley Cohen tells me that he is now running the Scone Foundation, in Copake, NY, supporting young artists. The foundation annually recognizes an archivist or activist who has made a significant contribution in such areas as resisting censorship, preserving historical memory, or providing support to scholars conducting research in history and biography. It also funds an annual prize in collaboration with the Calder Foundation to assist a young artist.

Bill Doerler holds a monthly Zoom meeting for ’55ers at 4 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. If you join the email list, you will get the details on the first of the month as to how to connect to the Zoom.

Richard Lapkin tells me that he is retired, living in the Phoenix, AZ, area. He says he is “generally taking it easy,” aside from taking several cruises. His daughter lives nearby and he often sees her and her two kids. Aside from family, he still plays tennis and duplicate bridge.

In the interest of Cornell 1955 nostalgia, let me recall a watering hole most of us visited during our days in Ithaca, but which no longer exists: the Clinton House Cocktail Lounge. In our day, there was an impressive mural in the bar there, painted by James Owen Mahoney, of the Cornell art department, depicting figures from Ithaca College, and Cornell, notable buildings in downtown Ithaca, and mythological figures toasting each other while floating in the air, representing festivity in wine.

On the left were representations of buildings on the Cornell campus and Cornell activities—boating, swimming, crew racing, and general conviviality. The mural depicted, according to the artist Norman Daly, “a spirited but refined bacchanal involving numerous figures, some nude and some in contemporary attire of the 1950s, against a romanticized version of Ithaca’s gorges, waterfalls, lakes, and architecture, all idealized by a slightly alcoholic fantasy.”

The Clinton House, built as a grand hotel in the Greek Revival style in 1830 at 116 North Cayuga Street, was designed by noted architect Ira Tillotson. It was rebuilt in 1901 and again in 1973, when the Historic Ithaca Foundation bought it (to prevent the building from being demolished to build a Holiday Inn) and restored it. The lounge was torn out in the 1980s, but I have gotten conflicting information as to whether the mural itself still exists. A digital copy of the mural is in the Library of Congress. Historic Ithaca sold the building in 2009 and it is now an office building, but covenants prevent it being torn down.

I remember the mural with nostalgia. Do you? ❖ Gordon White (email Gordon) | Alumni Directory.

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1956

Happy spring, Class of ’56! We hope this message finds you well. If any classmates are reading this, we hope you will take the time to write to us! Others from our time on the Hill would greatly enjoy reading what you’ve been up to over the years since graduation. ❖ Class of 1956 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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1957

The magic in the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts has called several classmates to establish homes and/or summer cottages in its very special atmosphere. Summer brings a multitude of tourists to enjoy a cornucopia found only in the Berkshires. This lovely setting offers Lenox’s Tanglewood Music Center (summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra), the Williamstown Theater Festival, the Clark Art Institute, the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Stockbridge’s Norman Rockwell Museum and the Red Lion Inn near Pittsfield, the Hancock Shaker Village, and so much more.

Martin and Laurie Bloch Schwartz ’59 had a weekend condo in the Berkshires for 15 years. In 2000, after Martin retired from a banking career in New York City, they moved full time to the Berkshires. There, Martin is active in a hiking group and volunteers at a local food pantry. Laurie is on the board of the Barrington (MA) Stage Company, a recognized regional theater, and is a trustee emeritus of the Cornell Club of the Berkshires. They both volunteer at Tanglewood and still play tennis. They head out to Rancho Mirage, CA, to escape the New England winters and also enjoy taking cruises in the spring and fall.

Robert George sends his message from Blaine, WA, home of Semiahmoo Resort Golf & Spa. Blaine is two hours north of Seattle and is near the Canadian border, “as northwest as it gets.” He keeps in touch with his PSK brothers and, while he stays close to home, hopes to take some road trips. He and wife Sherry had their two daughters and their son, their spouses, and children with them for a week in August for a small reunion. They had a lot of fun with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who arrived from Colleyville, TX, Vancouver, BC, and Kelowna, BC. Could they have been there to celebrate Bob’s 90th birthday? He notes, “Reached the big 90 this year and still above ground!” With both him and Sherry in fair health, they delight in visits from friends and family.

Anabel Stresino Leigh’s family and friends celebrated her 90th birthday in early December with a party in her Palestine, TX, senior living setting. Anabel and her Forest Hills (NY) High School classmate Paul Noble had birthdays only two days apart. Paul’s wife, Paulette, eased his transition to 90 with a super lunch with 75 of his nearest and dearest. Judy Reusswig celebrated her 90th December birthday with her Sun City friends in the Olde Pink House in Savannah, GA. She continued her celebration in January, traveling with friends on a cruise. She said she keeps her mind sharp by playing a lot of bridge and tackling Zen Word.

The magic in the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts has called several classmates to establish homes and/or summer cottages in its very special atmosphere.

Connie Santagato Hosterman ’57

Claire Sanford Perrault celebrated her 90th when her sister came to visit from England. Claire, the widow of the late Robert Perrault, lives in Jersey City, NJ, and stays active by writing “VOTE” postcards, attending weekly political gatherings with women friends, and gardening. Her comment about an impactful thing she learned at Cornell: “Think it through.”

Paul Tregurtha answered that same question with, “How to meet a wonderful wife and survive in tough competition in academics and sports.” His wife, Lee Anderson Tregurtha ’59, passed away in 2023 after 65 years of marriage. Paul is semi-retired from his Great Lakes shipping companies. His four children and 10 of his 14 grandchildren all went to Cornell. Beach Kuhl answers the Cornell impact question with, “How to get along while leading a productive life.” He adds that he reached the age of 90 in reasonably good shape. He has retired from public life after 12 years on the Ross, CA, town council, three terms as mayor, and representing Ross by serving on various county organizations. He still serves on an age-friendly Ross commission.

Gabrielle Kirsch McGhee, widow of classmate Donald, found this a tough question. After one science class, biology, in high school, she challenged herself at Cornell with the sciences: in her first year, she took zoology, chemistry, and geology; in the second year, botany and physics (with labs), then entomology and classification. She also recalls the beauty of the campus and its surroundings. Now she is involved in volunteering and being useful with her activities in church outreach, peace movements, and soup kitchen, and enjoys music, book club, birds, and her flower garden. Her love has grown to include 10 grandchildren and many good friends.

Al Collard enjoys the nice weather on Shelter Island, NY, yet each year after October 15 he heads for Jupiter, FL. He plays golf and continues writing his history books about his family. He shows his pride in his two granddaughters, Kate ’28, now in her sophomore year at Cornell, and Mary, in her second year at Trinity College. Michael Hausman checks in to tell us he is still ranching in Montana and spends the winter in New York City. He is not really retired as he continues to teach film at Columbia University.

How have you celebrated your 90th birthday? Feel free to let me know. ❖ Connie Santagato Hosterman (email Connie) | Alumni Directory.

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1958

We have little news in the New Year and the first is sad news. We’ve lost a dear friend and staunch supporter of the Class of ’58, Audrey Wildner Sears, who died in late December. Audrey was class treasurer for decades and known to most of us for her lifetime interest in Cornell and ’58. She and Ray ’57 raised three boys, first in Mendham, NJ, and for the last 30 years, in Grantham, NH, just south of Hanover. We classmates will surely miss her thoughtful inputs and cheerful involvement with the class and her many friends and fellow Cornellians.

On a happier note, we have been in touch with several classmates during the holidays, all of whom, it turns out, are still living in their homes after many years. Duffy and Marilyn Bates Mathias returned to their home in Upperco, MD, after trying senior living elsewhere; they are very happy to be back at their old homestead not far from Baltimore.

Hannah Hollis Cook and her husband, Miller, DVM ’58, still reside in their Adirondack Foothills home of at least five decades in Carthage, NY. Irene Rizzi Metzger still lives in her home in East Aurora, NY, in which she and Roger raised their family of four, of whom three are Cornellians from the ’80s and ’90s.

Tom, DVM ’58, and Carolyn King Nytch still reside on a hill above Owego, NY, in an abode from which Tom plied his veterinary skills for the State of New York for many years until his retirement.

Dick and Connie Case Haggard still live in their home of nearly 60 years, located about 15 miles north of Philadelphia, from which they’ve raised three boys and continued active life well after Dick’s retirement.

Finally, we hear from Meyer Gross and Karen that they’ve enjoyed their Manhattan home for over 30 years and plan to remain there, like many of us, as we age. No doubt, many ’58ers are doing the same. Let us know of your living arrangements these days. Cheers for now. ❖ Dick Haggard (email Dick) | Barbara Avery, MA ’59 (email Barbara) | Alumni Directory.

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1959

“The people at NASA might call it a successful failure,” writes Carole Parnes. “We had been planning a trip to see the northern lights for quite a while. I had read they were usually at their peak during the equinoxes, so we chose a cruise out of Bergen, Norway, for mid-March 2025. We prepared well, packing multiple layers of undergarments from our skiing days, buying new cold-weather boots, and retrieving hooded parkas last used for a Y2K cruise to Antarctica at the other end of the world. Things started out well. The night before we reached Alta above the Arctic Circle, we caught a brief glimpse of the northern lights. We timed it right! Or so we thought.

“The sky was overcast the entire time we were above the Arctic Circle. Still, we had several very enjoyable encounters with Sami people, and a bucket-list-fulfilling dog sled ride around a snow-covered golf course.” More recently, Carole emailed while traveling through Spain and Portugal: “Just finished tapas, a Greek salad, and lemon sorbet, and walked up a hill to get to our hotel. The hills here in Toledo are killers! But the art! The architecture! Fabulous!”

“Well, ’twas an adventure unplanned,” writes Carole Kenyon. All went well as she and her husband, Ralph, cruised from England to Spain … until they reached Portugal and Ralph fell in Porto. “Back on the ship, he caught a cold, then fell getting off the ship. Fast forward to the ER in Barcelona for the cold, which became pneumonia—which meant that the hip fracture was not diagnosed until we returned to Seattle at the end of the cruise. At least I got to practice my Spanish—Ralph’s hospital roommate was delighted—and my son Michael Friend ’86 flew in from Seattle to help out (and via Facebook, found a high school classmate living locally whom he hadn’t seen since that long-ago time).”

We had a bucket-list-fulfilling dog sled ride around a snow-covered golf course.

Carole Parnes ’59

Like so many others, 2025 will be remembered by Art Geoffrion, MS ’61, as the year that brought Southern California’s second most destructive fire ever. “I was ordered to be ready to evacuate and duly packed up, but fortunately never had to leave. My apartment building sustained smoke damage. It took about six months for remediation and for tenants to start trickling back. In retrospect, I learned an important lesson: in packing up for possible evacuation, it turns out that I missed quite a few things important to me or to my daughters, Sue and Debra. If you have never prepared to evacuate your home, that’s an exercise that could pay huge dividends should that ever be necessary.”

Art continues, “Other than that, it was another wonderful year. My regular schedule has been about the same in recent years: very healthy eating and drinking, 45+ minutes of exercise daily, running my senior men’s discussion group’s weekly meetings, participating in my nonfiction book club, listening to podcasts while moving about, and frequent meals with friends—adjacent to a classical music performance whenever possible.”

In anticipation of its move back to its newly renovated office space in downtown Ithaca in late 2025, the staff of Cornell’s Office of Alumni Affairs and Development decided to identify all 15 meeting rooms not with numbers but by honoring pioneers in AAD. “It is a wonderful history lesson with each room featuring a short biographical statement,” noted Fred Van Sickle, Vice President for AAD. Among the people honored is the late Dave Dunlop, who worked as a fundraiser at Cornell for 38 years.

“He established and led the Principal Gifts Office at Cornell, where he nurtured friendships with the University’s top donors and cultivated some of Cornell’s most important gifts. As a prolific writer and speaker about his philosophy of relationship-based, donor-centric fundraising, Dunlop pioneered the system known as ‘moves management.’ He taught and inspired generations of advancement professionals, particularly through the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. … David was a consultant and educator long after his retirement from Cornell in 1997, helping spread the idea of transformational giving and ‘ultimate gifts’ to hundreds of institutions.” ❖ Jenny Tesar (email Jenny) | Alumni Directory.

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1960s

1960

Edith Rogovin Frankel writes, “I’m living in south-central New Jersey now, after some 40 years in Israel. Having lost my husband (in 2008) and my partner (in 2020), I’m keeping busy with various things. Two daughters and seven grandchildren (and one daughter-in-law!) are all a joy.

“I’m still teaching, though not full time. I plan to give a series of lectures at Florida Atlantic University on both the Boca Raton and Jupiter campuses throughout February 2026 on the cultural history of the Jews in Eastern Europe.” ❖ Class of 1960 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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1961

This class column will be brief due to lack of content, so remember to keep sending your news on for Class Notes. We’ll lead off with an announcement from our class Reunion committee.

Classmates have already begun booking rooms at the Statler for our 65th Reunion, June 4–7, and we hope you, too, will be among them. Class functions will be conveniently located near university events. Caterers’ menus, including wines, are being carefully reviewed by our class “foodie.” Every effort is being made to ensure a memorable time for all. You won’t want to miss being with us!

And now our only note, from Leland Bookhout, now living in Staatsburg, NY. “In retirement, I build toys for my grandkids, mostly trucks and cars with some play buildings to augment the trucks, cars, tractors, etc. My wife and I are enjoying each other. Our two ‘kids’ are nearing retirement age. Thoughts from Cornell: I met humanity in its good and evil. While we all fit the mold of one body and all its parts, we are all different in our views, goals, aspirations, and opportunities.”

Meanwhile, please keep up to date on our class website. Send your news to: ❖ Doug Fuss (email Doug) | Susan Williams Stevens (email Susan) | Alumni Directory.

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1962

Spring is nearly here. Hope this new season finds you all healthy and happy and busy with lots of activities. About the latter, let us know, please, how you’ve been and what you are up to.

Barry Proner writes from Isleworth, Great Britain: “I came to London (permanently, as it happened) in 1972 after medical school, an internship in San Francisco, and residencies in psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry in Boston. I trained as a contemporary Jungian analyst in adult, child, and adolescent psychoanalysis. I’ve been in private practice for many years, but I have yet to retire.” He finds his granddaughter, his Labradors, and living in London most satisfying these days. He also notes that he’s thinking of moving permanently to the south of France, where he’s had a house for the past 35 years! “Any Cornellians from ‘back then’ who may find themselves in London are most welcome to get in touch.”

“I have been enjoying my volunteer activities,” notes Mickey Miller of Allentown, PA, “especially when I can use my expertise in investments, finance, and income taxes to help others. I like giving talks and writing articles as a way of sharing. Over the last year, I gave three talks to the Schmooze and Schmear men’s group (a.k.a., ROMEO, Retired Old Men Eating Out) titled, ‘Jewish Humor,’ ‘McDonald’s and Me,’ and ‘Financial Planning and Me.’ Recently, as chair of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Foundation, I published three articles on charitable giving titled, ‘Tzedakah: What Does the Torah Say?,’ ‘Charitable Giving: Making a Difference During Life and After,’ and ‘Understanding Charitable Remainder Trusts.’

“In response to my three daughters asking me to record my memories and life’s journey for them, my five grandchildren, and future generations, I have completed 52 weekly short stories, with narrative and related pictures, for a Storyworth book that will be published in hardcover for each of my daughters and grandchildren. I had so much fun doing this, especially by adding a little humor whenever I could. I strongly recommend that our classmates consider doing this, or something similar, as a way of leaving a legacy for their children and grandchildren.”

Through the years, generosity to the University has been a hallmark of our class and classmates. Here’s yet another example. In December, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences announced that a $55 million gift from Stephen Ashley, MBA ’64, to CALS will establish the Cornell CALS Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment, combining the Department of Global Development and the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment. The school is named in honor of Steve, whose gift to endow the school is the largest in CALS history.

In December, CALS announced that a $55 million gift from Stephen Ashley ’62, MBA ’64, will establish the Cornell CALS Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment.

Judy Prenske Rich ’62

“Steve Ashley’s decades of leadership, advocacy and support for Cornell have had a profound impact on the University,” said President Mike Kotlikoff. “This investment to create the Ashley School is both timely and visionary, allowing us to bring together the expertise in agricultural, life, environmental, and social sciences that underpin environmental and human wellbeing locally and globally. We are so grateful to Steve for his generosity, partnership, and friendship.”

Steve has given more than a half-century of service to Cornell, including 55 years on the University Council, 16 years on the Cornell Board of Trustees, and 10 years as co-chair of the Far Above capital campaign. In 2016, he received the Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award, the University’s highest award for alumni service. Steve is chairman and CEO of the Ashley Companies, a Rochester-based firm that specializes in property management, brokerage, financing, and real estate investment. He has also been a member of our class council for more than two decades!

“My family has had a strong, multigenerational relationship with Cornell,” Steve said. “I met my wife, Janice, at Cornell and over the years, Cornell has influenced much of my personal and professional life. I am delighted to be able to support this initiative, which has been so thoughtfully framed and structured. I appreciate how it creates even stronger collaborations between agriculture, environmental science, economics, and research to positively impact communities.” Thank you, Steve. A lot.

Take a moment, please, to send along news and updates of what’s happening with you and your family. And check out our class website for timelier information. Send your entries to: ❖ Judy Prenske Rich (email Judy) | Alumni Directory.

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1963

I hope 2026 has been a good year for all of you so far. We are only two+ years away from our 65th Reunion! That’s hard to believe!

News is sparse this month. Think about sending me some updates on what’s happening in your lives when you have time.

Warren Walker, PhD ’68, now lives in Laguna Woods, CA. He writes: “I am relaxing in retirement, keeping in touch with friends and relatives, attending music events, and exercising. I recently co-authored a book titled Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty, which has been downloaded for free over one million times. Cornell changed the trajectory of my life. After I got my PhD, I joined the RAND Corporation. That would have been impossible without my Cornell education. I then became a professor at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. I helped establish its School of Engineering and Policy Analysis.”

Arthur Resnikoff wrote in September that he and his wife, Mare Tucciarone, “had just returned from spending two weeks in London and south of Bordeaux, France, where we attended a neighbor’s wedding. Visited with friends and saw Les Mis again (I think it’s my third time) in London, where it has been playing for 40 years. Thinking about rebellion certainly fits today as it did back in the 1700–1800s. And the price of good French wine is still inexpensive by U.S. standards. Hope there is little jet lag as I have a full day of corporate client appointments locally, then heading to Seattle and Alaska for more work the following week. Don’t know what I would do with myself if I retired; I’m having too much fun engaged with clients in leadership development.”

Don’t know what I would do with myself if I retired; I’m having too much fun.

Arthur Resnikoff ’63

Marion Travalini Rodd writes from Ventura, CA. “I continue to play flute in the Ventura County Concert Band. We play four concerts per year—free to the public—at Ventura High School. Playing a musical instrument activates the entire brain. In retirement, I am trying to do all the activities necessary to maintain optimum health: exercise, diet, social activities, family events, and playing flute in the band. My older daughter, Allison Rodd Ceppi ’92, is employed at Universal Studios in marketing. Allison’s sons are Cameron, University of Michigan ’25, and Ethan, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo ’28. My younger daughter, Amy Mackenzie, is a geriatric oncologist in Philadelphia. Her children are Camille, Haverford College ’27, and Max, Abbington Friends High School. I had the good fortune to attend a world-renowned Ivy League university, which opened up so many opportunities and lifelong friendships.”

Bob Epstein lives in New York City. He writes, “I continue as a board member of the Riverside Park Conservancy. My son recently graduated from Hofstra University School of Communication. He is pursuing a career in show business. Any help would be appreciated!”

Warren Icke ’62 and I have been loving our new life in the retirement community, La Posada Pusch Ridge, in Oro Valley, AZ. We have been here since early May and have made a lot of friends. We recommend the idea to any who are giving it some thought. Downsizing is the hard part but it’s so worth it in the end. We were in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, at the end of October. One of our granddaughters got married there. She met her husband in Australia, where she has lived for three years. The wedding was all family on both sides, so our entire family of 16 was together for the long weekend.

Please take time to send me some news. ❖ Nancy Bierds Icke (email Nancy) | Alumni Directory.

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1964

We begin this column with a request: please send us your news! Meantime, here’s classmate Donna Gellis Grushka, MS ’68: “I am still living in Israel, where I have been for more than 47 years. I keep busy through adult education courses (mostly via Zoom with one course in person), and volunteer involvement in some local organizations, as well as attending concerts, the opera, and meeting friends. Probably not all that different from classmates living elsewhere. There is a group of Cornell alumni that meets a few times a year for networking, renewing contacts with friends, and keeping updated on events on campus.

“I try to visit the States at least once, usually twice, a year to see my siblings in the NYC area and my daughter and her family in Charlottesville, VA. Two other daughters and their families live here and I get to see them regularly. I was in the States from early October to early November and much enjoyed the seasonal color in both New York and Virginia. The Cornell connection was busy at work during this visit.

“I met with the following Cornellians during the time I was there: first of all, Renah Levine Rabinowitz ’65 and her husband, Mayer; we have a family connection because Mayer is a cousin to my dear late husband, Eli, PhD ’68.

“Next I met with Linda Cohen Meltzer, Roberta Matthews Monat, and Sheila Zouderer Strauss, all of whom were DPhiE sisters; we met at the Cornell Club in Manhattan for lunch and then had a long ‘ladies chat’ in the very Ivy League-styled library. Senior year Hasbrouck flatmate Phyllis Rickler Alexander and her husband, Timothy, live not far from where my sister lives, and I enjoyed seeing them as well.

Dave Monahan ’78, Jay Bloom ’81, and I formed the Hawaii Lacrosse Club, which has recently held its 33rd international invitational.

Kenneth Kupchak ’64, JD ’71

“Finally, my trip to Virginia included an evening in the D.C. area, where I met my Cornell roommate and friend of 65 years (!), Barbara Furman Attardi. It was great to see everyone and to catch up.”

Paul Lyon briefly reports, “Not much of a story, but I spent 34 years as musical director of the local church choir. I donated an automobile to a worker who needed one. I purchased a house for a worker who needed one. I support Centraide and the Opéra de Québec.” And Paul did all this from his home in Quebec.

Kenneth Kupchak, JD ’71, writes, “After watching the alumni lacrosse match at Reunion, I purchased a couple of sticks and a box of balls from Terry Cullen, the son of Bob Cullen, my coach at Cornell, and returned to Hawaii. There I chanced upon a few other similarly inclined Cornell grads, Dave Monahan ’78 and Jay Bloom ’81. Together we formed the Hawaii Lacrosse Club, which has recently held its 33rd international lacrosse invitational with over 30 participating men’s and women’s teams from Japan, Australia, Canada, the Iroquois Nation, and, of course, many states, and initiated a youth lacrosse league—new to Hawaii.”

Cynthia Fulton Edmondson tells us, “In 2000 I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and became involved with Walk MS Houston. I just completed my 15th year. In 2012 I formed a team called Rollers & Strollers. On March 29, 2025 we participated in our 13th Walk MS Houston. Over these years our team has raised over $130,000 for the National MS Society for research and other programs.”

That’s all for now. But I could always use more of your news! 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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Stephanie Schus Russin writes that she and her husband left California in 2023 and moved to a small new retirement community in Boulder, CO. “We are still getting used to this different lifestyle, but it helps that everyone is friendly and down to earth regardless of how accomplished they’ve been career-wise. It’s also a plus for us that our cabin in Centennial, WY, where we usually spend much of the summer, is an easy three-hour drive away. My volunteer work in recent years has tended to be political—mostly with Activate America—but our community offers a variety of interesting programs and we’ve only just begun to explore Boulder.” Steffi comments that is was great to see many friends at our 60th Reunion in June 2025.

Joan Hens Johnson is also moving to a retirement community, Jacaranda Trace in Venice, FL, in 2026. The warmth of the days in January, February, and March, plus the temperate climate all year round are wonderful, as well as the vast cultural events!

Elliot Polland and wife Diane enjoy their five children and 12 grandchildren, with a 13th on the way. He says: “I find best life satisfaction with Diane and the grandchildren and an occasional round of golf!” Elliot is still practicing law with an office in New York, NY.

James Haldeman and wife Jan live in Ithaca. Jim states that graduating from Cornell led him to pursue his career. His 1967 master’s degree in resource economics also provided a pathway to the future.

Joel Speiser and his wife enjoy travel, golf, and duplicate bridge. Joel writes: “After a career in broadcast management I retired in 2008, then spent 10 years teaching drivers ed as a retirement job. That was much more fulfilling than the corporate world!”

After a career in broadcast management I retired in 2008, then spent 10 years teaching drivers ed as a retirement job. That was much more fulfilling than the corporate world!

Joel Speiser ’65

Willard Straight Hall celebrated 100 years in 2025, and the celebratory photos are featured in Cornellians. We all have memories of our days in the Ivy Room and other spots in this iconic building.

During each of the past 20 years, the Student Union Board has featured an emerging artists evening in memory of Lauren Pickard ’90. Her parents, Derek Pickard (died in 1990) and Joan Hens Pickard Johnson, were so proud of her accomplishments at Cornell. She was the day manager of the Straight during her junior and senior years. At the event in 2025, wonderful Cornell singers and bands performed. Hundreds of students attended, and the Student Union board provided a plentiful and delicious selection of food and drinks. Applause to the Student Union Board; each year, they organize many events for students, by students, with guidance from Kyle Schillace and his staff team.

Please take notice of class president Jamil Sopher, ME ’66’s letter to all classmates in December 2025 that described the Class of ’65’s extraordinary generosity toward establishing and maintaining the Student Wellness Program—and describing the program and noting its continuing success! Surveys have shown that students appreciate the nonjudgmental space that bridges the gap between academic advising and more therapeutic counseling.

Your correspondents welcome all your news! Please let us know what is happening in your lives! ❖ Joan Hens Johnson (email Joan) | Stephen Appell (email Stephen) | Alumni Directory.

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Spring—even in Ithaca—is almost here! And the snowy ground mush will melt, and the green Quads will return and welcome us for our “Big Cornell 60th!” This column is from all the Class of 1966 officers/leadership and Reunion team to thank you for the notes and emails you have been sending us all year, letting us know you are planning or hoping to be on the Hill. Thank you, too, for telling us you’ve been reaching out to friends and roommates to join you, to join all of us. Knowing your plans has helped us to plan for us all. We are grateful for your support and spirit, making it, as ever, a true ’66 team.

June 4–7, 2026! Registration forms will be in your mailbox soon (late March/early April) with info about how to register for the weekend and about HQ/dorm housing reservations. It will include an up-to-date ’66 events schedule. If you have special needs, we are here to help, as is Cornell. Hidden jewel highlights, special guests and speakers, and our iconic Forum ’66 Part IX (!) will fill the weekend. We’ll dedicate our 60th Reunion Class Gift: ’66 Overlook, a new landscaped seating area at the top of Libe Slope.

But, most of all: we will share walking and talking along paths, at HQ, mixing old haunts with incredible new Cornell spaces, catching up with friends from the ’60s, Reunion friends, and finding ourselves making new friendships. It is impossible not to make new Cornell friends each time we return. Eight classmates have let us know they hope to come to their first Reunion! Come for your first—or your zillionth. Just come. Reunion questions? Special needs? Just ask us: cornell66reunion@gmail.com. Check the University’s Reunion website, too.

We’ve received news this year from many classmates. Larry Bailis writes from Cambridge, MA, that he retired from Brandeis University on July 1, 2025, and is now associate professor emeritus. He is board chair of the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action and grandfather to six children. He recently visited Poland, where both his wife’s family and his own family originated.

After 40 years, Linda Duman Nack, in Oakland, CA, has retired from teaching and counseling in public schools and then community college. She volunteers as a tutor at an elementary school and is a docent at a historic house on Lake Merritt, where she sits on its board. The house’s history relates to the Gold Rush and the East Bay. Linda recently cruised for 15 days across the Atlantic from Ft. Lauderdale to Bermuda, Gibraltar, Spain, Venice, and Rome. Family time is spent hiking, enjoying zoo visits with grandchildren, family cooking and meals together, and playing games like Rummikub.

Also recently retired is Paul Foster in Bel Air, MD. Paul has retired from chaplaincy, and is enjoying birding, fishing, and spending time with his six grandchildren—and one great-granddaughter! He is teaching a homeschool co-op Bible class and occasionally preaching. His recent travels include Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania and Sea Isle City, NJ.

I’m still teaching and doing research at the University of Washington, Bothell—and I still bike 15 miles each way, back and forth, from home to campus.

Arnie Berger ’66, PhD ’71

Jeffrey Collins is “still involved in many progressive causes in these trying times—especially voting rights, women’s reproductive rights, environmental protections, immigrant rights,” and other social justice activities. He continues to enjoy retirement, which allows him to continue traveling with his wife. “Two big trips this year were a river cruise on the Magdalena River in Colombia, South America, from Cartagena to Barranquilla with add-ons in Medellin, Colombia, and Panama City, Panama. Then tooling around the Asturias Region of northwest Spain by car for a month, a region that very few Americans visit despite the spectacular coastline and the imposing Picos de Europa mountains. I also celebrated my 45th anniversary this year with my still-lovely wife, Rose Mills (University of Illinois ’71).”

A note from Arnie Berger, PhD ’71, from Sammamish, WA, includes the news that he is “still teaching and doing research in electrical engineering at the University of Washington, Bothell. I still bike 15 miles each way, back and forth, from home to campus.” He occasionally does high school interviewing, and mentors gifted high school students in the Seattle area on STEM projects. He was planning to leave on Christmas Day (2025) for a sabbatical in Wellington, New Zealand, at Victoria University. His travels include driving around northern U.K. and Scotland at the end of August into September. “My granddaughter is now a freshman at the College of William and Mary. I pushed for Cornell, but no joy.”

While we end this column with the sad news of the loss of a classmate, the memories shared below speak profoundly of the lifelong friendships, continued or made, in the four years we spent together at Cornell.

We learned that classmate W. Ben Harvey, ME ’67, passed away this past September. ’66 classmates Rolf Frantz, ME ’67, Ben’s Von Cramm roommate, and Richard Williamson, Ben’s lifelong closest friend, traveled to his memorial tribute in Hartford, CT. Richard wrote this note to us, “Ben and I were close friends in high school, and we attended Cornell together. Ben was in the five-year engineering college bachelor’s and master’s combined degree program, whereas I was in Arts and Sciences.

“After graduating, Ben served in the Peace Corps in the Philippines. Upon completion of that commitment, he joined the Pratt & Whitney engineering company (then a division of United Technologies) as an aerospace engineer. Ben worked there his entire career until he retired. Ben and I remained steadfast friends. We traveled together, skied together, and took many golf trips together as well. Ben was a decent person and a loyal friend upon whom you could always count for sage advice and undying friendship. I miss him every day.”

Almost soon, June! June 4–7, 2026! The whole ’66 “gang” of us—class co-presidents John Monroe, PhD ’70, and Rolf Frantz plus the class officers and the wide ’66 Reunion weekend, networking, and campaign leadership “teams”—join in sending this warm lure. We look forward to welcoming so many of you back to Cornell. We hope you will join us! ❖ Susan Rockford Bittker (email Susan) | Pete Salinger, MBA ’68 (email Pete) | Alumni Directory.

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Joanne Edelson Honigman (Brooklyn, NY) enjoys “doing artwork and being with my grandchildren. At Cornell, I learned to enjoy the diversity and variety of the world through friendships.”

The following notes provide further information about deceased class members who were reported previously in the In Memoriam section of Cornellians. This account offers a glimpse into their lives that goes beyond what can be reported via In Memoriam.

Gene Ference, PhD ’77, was from Weston, CT, which served as the base for his company Ference Leadership and Strategy, which provided hospitality management training and of which he was president. In Condé Nast Traveler’s 2002 Gold List of hotels and resorts, he reported, “These esteemed properties are recognized for their excellence both as providers of the finest hospitality products and services and as employers of choice in the communities in which they operate. As ‘behind-the-scenes’ providers, [the Ference Group] has, for more than 20 years, impacted many of these selected properties with surveys, assessments, and executive leadership retreats. One out of every three domestic properties listed has used our programs to influence, redirect, and support their culture.”

George Heinrich, who died last June, was associate director of the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Last October, as reported by the medical school, its “community celebrated his life and profound legacy. His impact continues to shape NJMS and beyond.” The memorial event honored his “extraordinary commitment to academic excellence, compassion, and humanism in medicine. Dr. Heinrich was much more than a respected leader; he was a warm-hearted gentleman who truly cared about every individual he encountered.

“Many recalled how he not only led with vision but took the time to connect personally, leaving a lasting impact on everyone from students to faculty to staff. His legacy of compassion and leadership is one that will continue to inspire the NJMS community.” Many graduates wrote that he had been responsible for their applying and was the first person at the school to congratulate them on being admitted.

At Cornell, I learned to enjoy the diversity and variety of the world through friendships.

Joanne Edelson Honigman ’67

Anita Nyyssonen (Wayland, MA) passed away in August 2024. “Proud of her Finnish heritage, Anita grew up in Watertown, MA, went to Watertown public schools, graduated from Cornell as a math major, and had a long career in the Boston area in software development,” an online obituary stated. “Anita’s father, Einard, was an engineer who did important work on RADAR at MIT during the war, a source of pride for her. After college Anita became the first employee of a group of MIT professors who eventually formed SofTech Inc., coding in the AED programming language to start, and eventually working on many sophisticated software development projects at SofTech and other area firms.”

Steven Webster (Fairport, NY), who passed away in January 2023, “had a great laugh and a friendly curiosity about others,” reported the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. “He seemed most at peace chatting it up with a buddy, new or old, over a sports game and a beer. He enjoyed listening to comedy, classical piano concertos, reading, playing cards and cribbage, and gardening; he was a natural athlete with a passion for baseball, tennis, and golf. Steve worked as a licensed clinical social worker, golf and tennis coach, bus driver, caregiver, and more; each endeavor allowed his big personality to shine through with little acts of kindness.”

Donald Harner (Lansing, NY) died in May last year. According to his obituary, “After graduating from Cornell, he settled in the Lansing area and, in 1972, founded Harner Design & Construction. With an eye for detail and an unmatched work ethic, Don had a gift for creating—he could design just about anything on the back of a napkin and had a reputation for being able to fix whatever needed fixing. His work and wisdom left a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege to know him.”

John Sugrue (Glendale, MO) passed away in August 2023. According to his obituary, “He achieved All-American team status for football, where he played center. He was proud to be fluent in Russian and incredibly proud of his Irish heritage in County Kerry. John made a lifelong successful career in the steel business, negotiating both domestic and international deals. As a hobby, he dabbled in real estate development with his father. He was an avid golfer and a 48-year member of Algonquin Golf Club, where he was able to do what he loved with the people he loved. He enjoyed playing golf regularly, entertaining his family and friends, having a cocktail, rooting his children on in swim meets, and teaching his grandchildren how to play football (long snapper and center), baseball, and golf. His true passion was being with his family and friends.” ❖ Richard Hoffman (email Richard) | Alumni Directory.

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

Felicia Nimue Ackerman continues teaching philosophy at Brown University with no plans to retire. She writes short stories and poems “as well as the usual sort of philosophy essay.” This past year she has had poems published in the New York Daily News, the Wall Street Journal, and several literary magazines. She also has been a prolific letter-to-the-editor writer.

According to an article in the April 2014 edition of the New Yorker about Felicia’s letters to the editor, “Since 1987, the New York Times has printed more than 200 of her letters, which is either a record or close to one. Tom Feyer, the letters editor, doesn’t keep count, but he named Ackerman as a top contender for first place. ‘Some days she sends several letters, each in response to a different article,’ he said. ‘Although I don’t know her personally, I have a good sense of how she thinks.’”

In 2006, IvyGate, a gossip blog covering the Ivy League, published a post under the headline “New N.Y. Times Policy Requires All Letters to Be From Single Brown Professor.” The following year, Gawker wrote a post about one of Ackerman’s letters (“Ivy Professor: Sundaes Are Yummy!”) and a commenter wrote, “I used to edit the letters column for one of the pull-out sections in the Times, and we had a rule against running too many Felicia Ackermans. One woman wrote us one time asking if her chances of having her letter published would be significantly improved if she signed her letter Felicia Ackerman.” Amazing!

Frederick Scholl, PhD ’76, enjoyed seeing many fellow Cornellians at the dinner and hockey game versus Yale that followed this past February in New Haven. He reports that “the driving snowstorm felt like Ithaca all over again. Of course, Cornell easily defeated Yale.”

Jerome Blackman lives in Virginia Beach, VA, and is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. He continues working as a professor of clinical psychiatry at Eastern Virginia Medical School and also was a distinguished professor of mental health at Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China, from 2018–21. He is the author or co-author of a number of books including Developmental Evaluation of Children and Adolescents: A Psychodynamic Guide, published by Routlege in 2023.

Jerome is now working on his sixth book. He still plays the trumpet and piano, going back to his days as a member of the Big Red Band and Nova Shadow Quartet. He has been a widower for the last three years. Writing, telling jokes, and meeting with old friends brings the most satisfaction to Jerome, and he quotes his Cornell roommate, Rick Shaper, who told him there is always a shortage of “old friends and waterfront property.”

This past year, Felicia Nimue Ackerman ’68 has had poems published in the New York Daily News, the Wall Street Journal, and several literary magazines.

Joyce Banch Flynn was featured on an episode of the podcast Heart of the East End this past July, talking about what it means to be a leader, working with local and national gardening groups, as well as winning athletic medals with her husband, Dan.

Diane DeGeorge Nichols and husband David continue to live in Rochester, NY. They finally took a long-awaited and COVID-delayed Mediterranean cruise starting in Athens and ending in Barcelona. They visited the Acropolis, the Parthenon, Ephesus, and Crete. They also traveled to Sicily, where some of her family were born, and then on to Rome, Tuscany, Marseille, and Monaco. Sounds like an amazing trip! Diane finds much satisfaction these days going to her local fitness center and working with her chorale group.

Seth Goldschlager sends sad news that his best friend from Cornell, our classmate Patrick Gerschel, died this past December. Patrick was a distinguished financier, real estate executive, and cultural leader, and lived a life noted for his professional achievements and public service.

After graduating from Cornell, he studied accounting, finance, and economics at NYU. He began his finance and investment banking career with an international orientation with Lazard Frères, where he served in a range of senior roles. Prior to Lazard, he worked at NBC News in Paris as an assistant bureau manager. In 1980, Patrick founded his own firm, Gerschel & Company, where he served as chairman and CEO.

Beyond business, Patrick was deeply engaged in cultural, educational, and charitable institutions. He served as chairman of the Winston Churchill Foundation, trustee emeritus of the Asia Society, treasurer of the American Friends of the Louvre, and vice chairman and treasurer of the French Institute: Alliance Française. He also chaired investment committees, supporting the Pasteur Institute and the Curie Institute. In recognition of his contributions to culture and international relations, he was honored by the French government in 2014 as an Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur.

Seth noted in particular in his remarks on the occasion of the award that “Patrick’s spirit of active support for organizations of true excellence can be seen in his work as president of the Winston Churchill Foundation and its remarkable graduate scholarship program; I recall Patrick telling me about how he marvels at the excellence of the candidates who are enabled by the scholarship to excel in life and leadership in various fields.” Patrick is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, his three children, Nathalie, Karyn, and Edouard, and six grandchildren. The American Friends of the Louvre are dedicating a park bench to him this spring in the lovely Tuileries Garden next to the Louvre.

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

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Lee Moseley Kleinman says that, for most of the past 20 years, she, Mary Gidley Gregg, Nancy McMahon Novey, and Cathie Ogorzaly Lehrberg have spent a week outside of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with their spouses (including Rogelio Novey-Diez) celebrating the warm weather and their long friendship. “All of us are remarkably healthy and doing well,” exclaims Lee. She kindly failed to mention the not-so-warm winters in Ithaca, or that it snowed at Cornell on May 9, 1966.

Philip Reilly notes that he is still working—about 80% time—in biotech, focused mostly on startups, trying to help people with rare genetic diseases, and spending “more time than I care to trying to raise money.” His two Cornell kids became a pediatrician (Sarah ’09) and public defender lawyer (Thomas ’07). His youngest (Chris, UMass) is recently married and working to grow a business he started. Phil says, “I have three awesome grandkids, all of whom are under 4, so have not yet cared to hear me push Cornell! I feel lucky to have worked most of my life in human genetics, a deeply fascinating field.” He’s even luckier: “Nancy, a truly creative person, and I have been together for 45 years.”

Suzanne Sacks reports that she is very busy as chairperson of the Docent Advisory Council at the Norton Museum of Art, the largest art museum in Florida. There are close to 60 docents providing tours to thousands of children’s school classes, in addition to hosting private groups and free public tours. Suzanne says, “I get to spend most of my time in a gorgeous place doing something I love with really smart colleagues who have led different, very interesting lives in other parts of the world.”

Bob Weisberg, who gave a great talk to our class last year on his oceanography book, mentions an extended set of holiday dinners with family and friends, “and miraculously no weight gain.” We might need another Zoom call on that accomplishment! In December, Bob said, “I just returned from a week of skiing at Vail, CO, and will embark with my wife, Cindy, on a Caribbean cruise, my penance (in a most enjoyable way) for taking off skiing.” When we congratulated Bob for remaining limber enough to still ski, he replied, “One of the guys that I ski with is 82. It gives me inspiration.” Class Notes, take note!

Classmate Seth Bramson is also an accomplished author. He’s busier than ever as an active board member of the Cornell Club of Greater Miami and leads both the Miami Memorabilia Collectors Club and the Greater North Miami Historical Society. Seth adds that he is the only person in the country who bears the official title of company historian with an American railroad. His book Speedway to Sunshine: The Story of the Florida East Coast Railway is their official history. Seth is the most-published Florida history book author and is now working on five more that will bring his total to 38.

Doug Mock took two interesting trips in 2025. In July, a dozen Cornell “bird types” spent a week in the Amazon with Professor Regina Macedo, University of Brasilia. “It gave me a special chance to tell Cornell Professor Emeritus Steve Emlen (neurobiology and behavior) that his lectures in 1968 showed me the scientific career path I would follow happily for the next four or five decades. And November was spent in Uganda finishing a field study of shoebill foraging behavior,” says Doug. Class Notes observes that a lot of Cornellians are interested in ornithology, and by the time you are reading this we will have heard a lot about Sapsucker Woods on a multi-class Zoom call with Randy Little ’62.

Seth Bramson ’69 is the most-published Florida history book author and is now working on five more that will bring his total to 38.

Joseph Burleson, Robert Kingan, ME ’70, Adam Sieminski, MPA ’71, and James Jordan ’70, along with Dave Gathman (Lycoming ’69), spent the summer of 1968 working in Alaska. Adam, Dave, and Bob drove to Fairbanks and later met Joe and Jim there. At that time, more than 1,000 miles of the 1,500-mile Alaska Highway from Dawson Creek, BC, to Fairbanks were unpaved. Adam reports, “Two days after we arrived in Fairbanks, we were headed toward the Post Office to check for mail. I was wearing a Cornell windbreaker and a big guy walking past turned around and stopped us. It was Ken Dryden, whom, sadly, we lost in 2025. We also met Mary Morse Kulawik, LLB ’66, shortly after her appointment as the first female assistant district attorney in Alaska. And we had dinner with legendary gold miner Roger Burggraf ’55, who was famous on the Cornell campus as the owner of Tripod—a feisty, three-legged sled dog.”

In May 2025, the entire “summer of 1968” group, except Jim Jordan (who died in 2021), held a reunion to celebrate that best-ever adventure. Joe Burleson was accompanied by spouse Susan Dickey Burleson ’68. In addition to finding many things to see and do in Fairbanks, including a visit to the celebrated Malemute Saloon, we were delighted by our scenic Alaska Railroad trip to Denali National Park and an incredible wildlife tour. We would learn later that Cornell journalism majors Robert Potter and Gregory Pogson (who died in 1995) spent the summer of 1967 in Fairbanks, driving from Upstate New York and having some of the same experiences on the road and in Alaska as we did a year earlier!

Speaking of Alaska, William Bruno, ME ’71, spent two years (1975–76) working as a geotechnical engineer on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Terminal in Valdez. During summer 1975, he drove 4,000+ miles in his trusty ’69 Camaro from Anchorage to his then home in Connecticut. After that experience, Bill earned an MBA at Stanford and then served for over 25 years with Consol Energy in planning and economics and international operations. His two children, Anna, MBA ’10, and Billy ’02, both have Cornell degrees. Bill and wife Lynne (Berkeley ’68) have divided their post-retirement years wintering in the South Hills of Pittsburgh while enjoying summers on Martha’s Vineyard. Bill notes that their home on the Vineyard was purchased from descendants of General George Washington Goethals, best known for the building and opening of the Panama Canal.

Greg Baum enjoyed attending the 2025 Trustee-Council Annual Meeting (TCAM) in Ithaca this past October as a member of the Cornell University Council. The TCAM event includes three days of high-level presentations by administrators, faculty, and staff on the latest key issues affecting the University. Greg says that he was able to take a guided tour of the phenomenal Wilson Synchrotron Lab, where he had a work/study job during its construction. “I was not the only member of our class in attendance at TCAM. Adam and Laurie Haynes Sieminski, Larry and Nancy Jenkins Krablin, and Alan Cody and Edith Moricz-Cody (Boston U.) were also present. I learned later that Nick Carino, PhD ’74, was on campus that weekend for Homecoming, and, somewhat earlier, so was Ken Rubin, MS ’71, JD ’73. Nick, Ken, and Adam were civil engineering classmates of mine. Other CE classmates John Rees, Mike Brown, ME ’70, and I meet monthly for lunch here in Portland, OR—all are doing well.”

Thanks to everyone who contributed. If you have a story to tell—or anything else to report—please let us know. You can share your news via the online news form or email Alexandra Bond ’12 (email Alex). You can find your friends in the Alumni Directory. Best regards. ❖ Adam Sieminski, MPA ’71 (email Adam).

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1970

Writing in the first weeks of December, I’m reminded of my pre-Cornell days, growing up in Upstate New York’s snow belt. Here, midway between Chicago and Milwaukee, the weather has managed to put perhaps seven inches of snow on the ground, and follow it with single-digit temperatures. So it is just like home.

Those of you who receive Cornellians emails on a regular basis will have recently seen some pictures of the campus with snow. Very nicely presented. In this part of the country (Illinois), the big difference is that those who plow will often wait until after the snow has fallen, leaving significant roads of two lanes in each direction with only one partly cleaned lane. Knowing this area, it would appear that the local governments are attempting to keep the costs of snow removal low. Wouldn’t cut it in Ithaca, or central New York!

The other item that I have focused on is our alma mater’s settling with the current federal government in order to regain many of the federally funded grants that drive so much of the research done by graduate students working on advanced degrees. An old saying that often comes up is, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” It wasn’t, but it certainly was a way to get the attention of major universities, including our alma mater, for questionable reasons. Enough said.

This particular column was interrupted as I was trying to finish it by the sound of an alarm in my house. It wasn’t a fire; instead, my carbon monoxide detector in the main bedroom had gone off. For those of you who have forgotten Chem 103 or 107, carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, and can be deadly. It replaces the oxygen in our blood! It can be in a house due to a malfunction or internal wear of the typical hot air furnace/air conditioner, common in many parts of the U.S. Inspecting the device, it had come to the end of its useful life—so, off to the local hardware store for a replacement. For those of you who still live in areas with colder temperatures this time of year, and have the common form of forced air heat, it might pay to see if your device is still working, or to obtain one. (And, yes, my initial degree from Cornell is in engineering.)

Changing the subject, and writing on classmates, a recent piece in Cornellians was focused on one of our classmates, Andrea Strongwater (New York, NY). Many of you will remember that she is an artist who created a painting, which was a view of Cornell in the wintertime, with inserts of specific buildings. This was reproduced as a 500-piece puzzle and was available to us at one of our prior Reunions. I still have mine! Those of you who have returned for Reunions may have encountered Andrea in the Cornell Store, where her artwork on many different items is presented for sale, and perhaps signed by the artist as well.

The article about her explores her new book, Lost Synagogues of Europe: Paintings and Histories. She tells the stories, in colorful, detailed paintings along with cultural histories, of 77 destroyed European synagogues, built from the early 1600s to 1930, across 16 countries. The book is the culmination of over 15 years of research, writing, and artwork, and is definitely worth a look.

Janet Seelbach Lawrence-Nelson ’70 reports that her greatest satisfactions come from watching her granddaughters pursue college educations.

Janet Seelbach Lawrence-Nelson (Spring City, PA) reports that her greatest satisfactions come from watching her granddaughters pursue college educations, while she works for her daughter in her custom window treatment business, watches her son run his own data business, and volunteers at church and politically. Janet is also working for fair funding in public schools in Pennsylvania, a race-based issue there, along with helping with a homeless shelter, meal programs, and a community garden.

Janet’s oldest granddaughter is a senior at Northeastern majoring in environmental science. She has a verbal job offer after graduation, based on a summer internship. Janet’s second granddaughter is a sophomore at Ursinus College near Philadelphia, majoring in biochemistry. She is an excellent writer and a TA for freshman chemistry classes. For Janet, the most impactful thing she learned while at Cornell was to figure out what you like to do, learn all about that field, and find a job doing it!

Robert Berne, MBA ’71, PhD ’77 (New York, NY) sends us information on his novel A Nearly Perfect Union, published in November. His wife, Rachelle Fox Berne ’71, is also an alumna. Their son and daughter-in-law and two of their four children live in Ithaca, where their daughter-in-law works as a career counselor in the Engineering college. Robert was a professor, dean, and vice president at NYU for 41 years. He retired in 2017.

In his latest book, the graduate student union movement is in full swing at Olmsted University, part of a global trend in higher education. Students, faculty, administrators, and the board of trustees clash. Will the university community work together for the greater good, or will conflict tear the university community apart?

To continue with my look at the total number of respondents for this column, now at 32 individual columns since January/February of 2021 (my first), are 172 individual responses (approximately 7%) from 115 individuals (approximately 4.8%). A fair number have responded multiple times. So, again, how about the rest of you? It would be great to hear from all of you!

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

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1971

From Fair Lawn, NJ, Gilda Klein Linden reports that her three sons have scattered to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and England. She travels to London at least once each year to visit Eric ’02 and sometimes gets an extra visit if she and her husband, Jeff, are traveling in Europe. Gilda and Jeff have been to all 50 states, all seven continents (though if you ask him, he’ll say eight including the microcontinent Zealandia), and all seven seas. Gilda reports that they are lucky to continue having good health (despite her two knee replacements and one new hip) and so continue their adventures abroad. Gilda and Jeff visited Japan in mid-October 2025.

Plans for 2026 include a return to Antarctica in February and to Australia/Indonesia (to see the Komodo dragons) in April. Gilda is still volunteering with her local ambulance corps, and knits and gardens when there is time. She maintains her nursing license despite being long retired and was able to volunteer with her county medical reserve corps during COVID, administering tests and vaccines. As I write this column, Gilda has just returned from the Cornell campus in Ithaca where she and Kathy Menton Flaxman (together with University staff) started the serious part of planning our 55th Reunion! Gilda hopes to “CU there in June.”

Michael Kubin shares that our classmate author Richard Price was the featured speaker at an event on movies about billiards, of which there are basically two Paul Newman movies: The Hustler (1961) and The Color of Money (1986) (script by Richard). Mike notes that Richard was his usual ultra-knowledgeable and highly entertaining self. Mike, together with classmates (and fellow TEP fraternity brothers) Marty Michael, Ted Grossman, JD ’74, and Cliff Essman (who made the trip all the way from Baltimore), attended the event in New York City.

Summarizing her life since our days on the Hill, Carol Fritz observes that she became a grad student in her 20s, a mother in her 30s, a lawyer in her 40s, an actor in her 50s, a standup comedian in her 60s, and a grandmother in her 70s. After college, Carol moved to Philadelphia to get a master’s in material culture and an ABD (all but dissertation) in early American social history at Penn. She’s lived in the Philly Powelton Village neighborhood ever since and likes to say, “I was raised in Brooklyn, and bloomed in Philadelphia.”

During the pandemic, Carol rented (and then bought) a condo near her daughter in Concord, CA, where she spends about four non-consecutive months a year with her little rescue dog who travels well. At our 20th Reunion, Carol finalized her decision to apply to law school at Temple and subsequently missed our 25th because she was studying for the Pennsylvania Bar. Despite her belief that she was going to be a transactional attorney, Carol ended up working in major class actions and high-stakes litigation (contracting herself out to plaintiffs’ firms to do document review). While most lawyers hate that, Carol has a passion for the facts and was thrilled, after being a historian who went into dusty, poorly organized archives looking for documents, that they gave her documents to read that were in some kind of order from an identifiable source, and paid her.

Acting was never on Carol’s dance card until she signed up for a group called Guaranteed Overnight Theatre that met on one Friday a month and put on a show Saturday morning for a paying audience. They told her that she had to be on stage and wrote a part where she was rapping, dancing, and speaking in a West Virginia accent. The kicker was that a few days later she attended a Washington, DC, “Turn Your Back on Bush” demonstration and a young man from Philadelphia recognized her from the performance. Carol was challenged to try standup and took a class in that. She says it’s the hardest thing she’s done, as she has to both write and perform her material, which she does occasionally in Philadelphia. Carol enjoys being part of a vibrant comedy community and working with younger people.

Apropos of the Class of ’71, Carol has been fortunate to share some amazing musical experiences with Kathy Menton Flaxman and Kathy’s husband, David, including a stellar performance in Philadelphia of Mahler’s “Symphony of a Thousand” that left Carol speechless and a performance of Mahler’s “Symphony No. 2” in Washington. She took Professor Donald Jay Grout’s History of the Symphony course the last time he taught it and wrote a paper on Mahler’s second, which made the concert extra special for her.

Gilda Klein Linden ’71 and Jeff have been to all 50 states, all seven continents, and all seven seas.

Our adventurous traveler Sally Clark Shumaker writes of her latest exploits, “I am an ‘on the road person.’ I might slow down at 80, but I am only 75 now and in good health. So why not travel as much as I can? Without children or a spouse, but with a compatible travel partner (who is spontaneous like me), I am free to head out in every direction, which I do! In 2025, I have taken numerous road trips to 18 states.” Sally also traveled to Egypt for a month, then was in Turkey and Italy for a month, and spent the month of November 2025 in Ecuador, where she has a permanent visa (akin to a Green Card) and intends to eventually settle.

For now, Sally makes a yearly visit to Ecuador, where she meets up with Wayne Jaquith at his home in Vilcabamba. In April 2026, Sally plans to return to Italy with several family members and visit St. Peter’s on Easter to see the Pope (Sally’s favorite world leader). If Sally’s peripatetic schedule allows—and she is not already in Alaska working as a tour guide and driver in June, as she has done the past several summers—she will see fellow classmates in Ithaca for our 55th Reunion.

Sally notes that she visited Ithaca most recently for Zinck’s Night in November, and on two additional occasions in 2025, and may be in Ithaca again before year’s end! “All things are possible!”

Kathy Menton Flaxman sent us this update from Chevy Chase, MD: “In early 2014, our daughter, Marian ’08, and her family, who had been living in Ithaca, decamped and moved in with us. I’m sure we all thought it was a temporary respite, but almost 12 years later they are still here and have added a third daughter and recently a second dog. Over the years we have reconfigured our spaces a bit, but no one seems eager to leave. During COVID we were all locked down together and it worked well. There is a division of labor (we generally leave the cooking to Marian) and it seems to be going well.

“Marian received a degree in public health, and then a master’s at Georgetown. She is actually employed by Cornell now, working mostly remotely in the Joan Klein Jacobs Center for Precision Nutrition and Health, after I took her to a 2024 summer talk by its director, Saurabh Mehta. I am not a Tony Chen ’12-level connector, but I am proud of having made that connection! Our three granddaughters are 19 (in college!), 12, and 7, so we have a whole range of things going on at once.

“Meanwhile I seem to be busier than ever. I belong to a local women’s club, which has a host of activities both social and philanthropic. I sing in two choruses, one small one that sings lighter music and a larger one that sings more serious fare. (I can’t keep up with my husband, who sings in several more!) I try to read my book club book every month and maybe another one if I can squeeze it in, as well as staying abreast of current events!

“And of course, along with Gilda Klein Linden, I am co-chairing our 55th Reunion, which is coming up this June! There will be special speakers, campus tours, sharing of our history project, and more. Sadly, our big 50th Reunion did not happen, at least not on campus, so we hope that many classmates will come back to enjoy reconnecting at this one. Information will be heading your way.”

We look forward to receiving your news and hopefully seeing you at the Reunion! ❖ Cara Nash Iason (email Cara) | Elisabeth Kaplan Boas (email Elisabeth) | Alumni Directory.

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1972

Fellow classmates, this is Wes Schulz, ME ’73, one of two class correspondents who produce this column. We appreciate your input.

Pat Guy reports that she was coincidentally on the same trip Down Under as Gail Povar and her husband, Larry Bachorik ’71, last year in March. Together they camped under the stars in the Outback, snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef, and sailed in New Zealand’s Milford Sound, among other amazing adventures in the monthlong-plus odyssey.

Cliff Donn and his wife, Brenda Kirby, are moving to the nearby village of Hamilton, NY. They will be able to walk to Colgate/Cornell football and basketball games. After 21 years in their glorious log house in the woods, they have decided that the winters have just gotten too hard. Cliff relates that it seems strange but the winters in Hamilton, only 14 miles away, are milder. Their new (200-year-old) house has a driveway that will be much easier to navigate in the snow. They also look forward to being able to walk to the library, the movies, restaurants, etc.

Pat Guy ’72 reports that she was coincidentally on the same trip Down Under as Gail Povar ’72 and her husband, Larry Bachorik ’71, last year in March.

Alex Barna reports from Sunnyvale, CA, that he enjoys his grandchildren. He follows the Cornell athletic teams and his favorite professional sports teams.

Last Thanksgiving, my wife, Debbie, and I flew from Texas to visit family in New York City. We took in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade along with seemingly a million other folks. It was sunny but cold. We were 30 yards of people away from the parade. We could see the balloons and the floats but only the hats of the marching band members. We were thrilled to see Santa at the end of the parade.

Another item checked off on my bucket list was to see Cornell play hockey at Madison Square Garden versus Boston University for the Red Hot Hockey game. It had been 40 years since I last saw a Cornell hockey game. I went with Debbie, daughter Amy, son-in-law Colin, and grandson Del, age 8. It was the first hockey game for Debbie and for Del. We all enjoyed a very exciting game in an arena packed with 75% Big Red fans in which Cornell outplayed BU. But, alas, the bad guys won 2-1. Del cried when the final buzzer went off. I was crying on the inside.

Thank you to all who have written in. Keep the news coming! As always, you may contact one of us directly, or use the University’s standard online news form. ❖ Wes Schulz, ME ’73 (email Wes) | Susan Farber Straus (email Susan) | Alumni Directory.

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1973

We have one piece of news this month. It’s from Steven Fruchtman, who writes as follows:

“At this stage of our lives it appears we mostly write about new generations. So proud and happy to announce my eldest, working at MGH in Boston, is engaged to a lovely young man. Her twin siblings are also doing well: one is at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in Philly, going for her PhD, and her brother is a first-year medical intern at Stony Brook. I have retired and am just basking in their accomplishments and the sun.” Thanks, Steven!

A single item is not normally enough for a full column, but I’m guessing our class’s mostly empty mailbox indicates where most of us are at the moment—reflecting on our lives and basking in the sun (or in my case here in Seattle, basking in the overcast between atmospheric rivers). Life isn’t especially newsworthy. The big transitions are behind us (except in my case: now one year into our downsizing process and still not done), which doesn’t serve the needs of an alumni column. But, as someone who spent 50-plus years in the news business chasing drama, the oasis is not a bad place to be. Tell us about it. ❖ Dave Ross (email Dave) | Phyllis Haight Grummon (email Phyllis) | Pam Meyers (email Pam) | Alumni Directory.

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1974

Donna De Garmo Willis writes that her daughter and sister joined her on a trip to Slovakia to visit her grandparents’ birthplace. They visited castles, cathedrals, and historic villages. They met relatives they didn’t know they had in her grandparents’ village. While there, Donna’s daughter got to try on a traditional kroj like their ancestors wore. It was an experience of a lifetime with dancing, food, and traditional music.

Julie Kane is a professor emerita at Northwestern State University. She received the 2025 Louisiana Writer Award. Her latest poetry collection is Naked Ladies: New and Selected Poems. This award had previously gone to many of her most admired writers, including Ernest Gaines, James Lee Burke, and Yusef Komunyakaa. Julie says it’s a dream come true.

My son Dashiell and I had the pleasure of joining Carol McKenzie Moore and her husband, Tom ’79, for Thanksgiving. We visited Tom and Carol before we made the big move to New Hampshire from Texas. They live down the street and around the corner from us now. Tom is the younger brother of our class co-correspondent, Betsy Moore.

Michael Handlery missed Reunion, as he was on a trip to Japan with his son. Michael comes from a long line of hoteliers, starting with his grandfather, Harry Handlery. Harry arrived at Ellis Island as a 14-year-old boy from Ukraine and expanded his ownership to 26 hotels in California; by 1954, Handlery Hotels stood as the largest family-owned hotel company in the world. Michael currently lives in Lafayette, CA.

Do you have an interesting family history? Please send in your news, as we need to hear from you! ❖ Linda Meyers Geyer (email Linda) | Betsy Moore (email Betsy) | Perry Jacobs (email Perry) | Alumni Directory.

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1975

It’s been nearly a year since our 50th Reunion, and we’re delighted that we are still hearing from folks who have reconnected with friends made during their days in Ithaca. Martin Siegel reports that in April 2025 the Phi Psis met for the 10th time in the past 50 years.

Nearly 130 of the fraternity members (primarily of the ’70s) and their spouses reunited in Nashville to continue their tradition of gathering every five years. In honor of their noted philanthropy from their time on the Hill, including the Phi Psi 500, which generated charitable contributions, they once again combined efforts to raise funds for villages in Africa in need of fresh water, for equine therapeutic services in New Jersey, and for families experiencing late-term pregnancy loss and stillborn loss in Minnesota. It was a wonderful gathering, but Marty said it almost felt like “speed dating,” as everyone tried to reconnect over a 48-hour period. Their next gathering will be in San Diego in 2028.

Marty still loves his work in residential real estate sales and investment in Minnesota, as well as embarking on a fair amount of international travel, including New Zealand last year and France later this year. Marty and his wife, Cindy, are active in funding and supporting the David Kampic Siegel Nursing Fund, an endowment established in 1991 to support RN training for new mothers in crisis. The Siegels, with the help of many generous supporters, completed the $50,000 endowment in 1996, a sum which has grown substantially in recent years with 10% of the earned income annually granted to the program.

Julia Karlson-Waid writes from NYC, where after 19 years she retired as vice president and director of client accounting in the finance department of Deutsch Advertising. Her late husband of 40 years, Guy Crandell Waid, was an opera singer and singing teacher. The two enjoyed ballroom dancing together, and Julia continues to take lessons as well as ballet classes at the Joffrey Ballet School. Given the disparity in their ages, she became a grandmother on her wedding day and has eight grandchildren and four great-grands. She loves retirement, obsesses about Argentine Tango, and generally has the pleasure of doing as she pleases.

Julia has stayed in close touch with her Cornell roommate, Anne Swardson, who has had an astonishing career as a journalist and writer of mystery/detective fiction, and with Jonathan Lipman, BArch ’78, who is an architect in Iowa specializing in Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie-style designs. Julia’s Cornell classmate and childhood friend, Andrew Feigin, has his own production company for theatrical productions and stage managed events in many prominent venues including the New York City Opera, Radio City Music Hall, and the Kennedy Center.

While working part time as a homework tutor at the city library in San Diego, Martha Wild has developed other diverse interests in both birding and protesting. She would love to be in touch with classmates who would be interested in joining her in birding to some of the hotspots around Cornell. She credits Cornell for launching her into her biology career, going on to earn a PhD in genetics at Yale, and working in the areas of microbiology, virology, and molecular biology.

Nearly 130 Phi Psi members (primarily of the ’70s) and their spouses reunited in Nashville to continue their tradition of gathering every five years.

Janet Rivkin Zuckerman has published a new book, “Nasty Women”—Reclaiming the Power of Female Aggression, A Psychoanalytic Approach (Routledge 2024), that explores the way the patriarchy silences women and thereby thwarts their potential. It is an academic publication with crossover appeal, given the way women are struggling with patriarchal issues these days. She has also penned a deeply insightful personal essay for Cornellians.

After practicing law for six years, Janet returned to college to earn her doctorate in clinical psychology and has been practicing and teaching psychotherapy and psychoanalysis for over three years. She is currently a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst in private practice in Rye, NY, and a clinical consultant at the NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis.

Scott Zuckerman ’08, the oldest son of Janet and husband Joseph Zuckerman ’74, was a CALS graduate and is currently a neurosurgeon in Nashville, TN, where he lives with his wife, Autumn, and two children. Their son Matthew was a Yale graduate in ’11 and is an architect in Manhattan. He was recently married to Nicholas Pandolfi, a business entrepreneur. Janet and Joe travel back to Ithaca often to review memories from Cornell that they cherish. They have treasured friendships with Paula Markowitz Wittlin ’74 and with Jon, MBA/MRP ’76, and Debra Waxenberg Rutenberg.

Retirement has brought fabulous travel adventures for Anthony Deusenbery and wife Holly, who not only enjoyed a cruise through the Amazon during 2025 but a cruise around the world as well. Michael Rosepiler, ME ’76, and wife Peggy recently cruised from Los Angeles north to Alaska, crossed the Pacific Ocean to Tokyo, and flew back to their home in Charlotte, NC. In summer 2025 their travels took them to Denver for sightseeing aboard the Rocky Mountaineer Train, followed by a few days exploring the Arches and Canyonlands national parks near Moab, UT, which are certainly two of my favorite destinations.

Ed Edelson’s retirement in Southbury, CT, has enabled him to engage in many different activities including hiking in the woods, political engagement, writing, and video editing. He has often reflected upon his days at Cornell, understanding that the joy of learning new things there was truly impactful in his life. Fred Peckham is a retired software development project manager and scrum master in finance. He is currently living in Rochester, NY.

Several of our classmates have made the relocation to the sunny South. Joel Helmrich, MBA ’76, and his wife, Barbara, are in Sarasota, FL, where they both enjoy spending time with their grandkids and friends, the local theater, and travel. Gerald Nolan, BS ’78, and wife Colette reside in St. Augustine on the eastern coast.

Please take a few minutes to send us highlights of your life after Cornell, college friends you’ve seen, and memorable moments on campus, and we’ll share the news in our upcoming columns. To update your contact info with the University, go to this website. ❖ Joan Pease (email Joan) | Deb Gellman, MBA ’82 (email Deb) | Karen DeMarco Boroff (email Karen) | Mike Tannenbaum (email Mike) | Alumni Directory.

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1976

Lynda Gavigan Halttunen and Steven Leigh ’73, BS ’75, have been together for nearly two years, after a 50-year separation. They are living bi-coastally—in Fort Lauderdale, FL, from January to June, and in Carlsbad, CA, from June to January. If you would like to visit, just let them know!

In September, they traveled for five weeks to Troy, NY, to see Tom Wagner ’73 and to Montreal and Boston to visit family. Then they cruised from NYC through the Panama Canal. Lynda adds that they are staying healthy, dancing, attending concerts, trying to avoid politics as much as possible, and feeling much gratitude for all of their blessings.

As your class correspondent, I was invited to sit in on the Reunion committee’s Zoom meeting. I was impressed with all of the work that has been done already to make our 50th Reunion amazing. We are the bicentennial class, after all! Terry Wolff Heinichen, MBA ’83, and Skip Newman are co-chairs, along with a hard-working committee. They are looking for more volunteers to help in planning and to help over the weekend. You can contact Terry or Skip directly through the Alumni Directory.

On Thursday night at our headquarters in Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall, there will be a “blast from the past” dinner featuring favorite sandwiches from the food trucks from our time on campus. The weekend will also include “Straight Breaks” at HQ, with ice cream and chocolate chip cookies. Our class will have the private use of the entire building for luncheon Saturday. Other highlights will include RED Talks featuring brief presentations from notable classmates and, of course, many more things to do on campus. More details will be coming in the months ahead. Hope to see you on campus this June 4–7, 2026! ❖ Lisa Diamant (email Lisa) | Alumni Directory.

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1977

Upon reading Howie Eisen’s January/February Class Notes column, I was so surprised to learn that we were both in Vietnam and Cambodia in October and November 2025. Cornellians do get around! Angkor Wat was high on my bucket list as well, and it did not disappoint. The Cornell Alumni Tour of Southeast Asia, which also included time in Laos, Bangkok, and Singapore, was great fun as well as a wonderful learning experience.

Best of all was getting to know a tremendous group of Cornellians and their travel companions. As John Cobey ’66 noted in a follow-up to us, “What a great group of travelers to spend time with in an exotic area of the world. It was a meaningful trip because of what all of you contributed. Otherwise, it was merely seeing sites and experiencing culture. But you all added humor, insight, and joy. It reminded me of my best times at Cornell, with people who were brilliant, interesting, and fun.”

While our tour exposed us to much of the history that Howie noted last round, John’s wife, Jan Frankel, reminded us of “wonderful memories of sampan boats, tuk-tuk rides, cooking classes, eating many different foods, planting rice in the muck with everyone, the water buffalo, having a rat climb up my arm at the HeroRAT museum, visiting numerous happy houses, and climbing to the top of both historic and modern sites. What a whirlwind!”

The group included alumni from the classes of ’59 through ’09, with the ’70s well represented. I was joined by Lawrence Erwich ’74 and his wife, Sara Crystal-Erwich ’75, of Delray Beach, FL, Frank ’74, ME ’75, and Elissa Katowitz Giaimo, MBA ’76, of San Mateo, CA, and Jules ’72, MBA ’74, and Karen Broten Sieburgh ’73 of Lansing, NY. Jules and Karen were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and we were all able to join in the fun along with their son Colin Sieburgh ’05, BArch ’06, and his husband, John Walter.

The Cornell Alumni Tour of Southeast Asia, which also included time in Laos, Bangkok, and Singapore, was great fun as well as a wonderful learning experience.

Mary Flynn ’77

Our classmate Sam Chamberlain and his wife, Barbara (Wooten) ’78, of Croghan, NY, also traveled with us. This was the first time I’ve met a fellow classmate on an Alumni Tour and it was delightful to get to know the Chamberlains and share Cornell memories. In early October, Sam and Barbara traveled to Cambridge, MA, where Sam and his son Jon Chamberlain ’13 achieved a bucket-list item by competing in the 60th Head of the Charles Regatta. They were the second-oldest entry in the Directors’ Challenge Parent/Child Doubles and finished 41st of 58 teams. Well done! Hopefully we can connect in Cambridge if Sam and Barbara revisit the Regatta in the future.

Our classmate Drew Nieporent was featured in a recent Cornellians story, where he spoke about his memoir, I’m Not Trying to Be Difficult: Stories from the Restaurant Trenches. In the book, released in 2025, Drew reflects on his renowned four-decade career in the restaurant industry. It’s full of anecdotes starting with childhood inspirations that fostered his love of food and creativity. After graduating from the Hotel School, he held management positions at NYC eateries Maxwell’s Plum, Tavern on the Green, and La Grenouille before opening his first restaurant in 1985 with chef David Bouley. That restaurant, Montrachet, was a great success, earning three stars from the New York Times, and launched Drew as a creative force behind other famous New York City dining spots such as Tribeca Grill and Nobu. He would go on to open over 40 restaurants in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Lastly, the Cornell Class Programs team from the Office of Alumni Affairs recently sent out a pre-Reunion 2027 survey asking for input on how best to make Reunion weekend unforgettable. Yes, hard to believe, but it’s true: our 50th Reunion is coming up soon. If you don’t have it on your calendars, please schedule the dates of June 10–13, 2027 for Reunion weekend in Ithaca. More information will be coming from our Reunion team in the months ahead, so stay tuned!

Please send news about what’s happening in your life—celebrations, trips, family milestones, work, retirement, or just favorite Cornell memories. We enjoy hearing from you and having the opportunity to share your stories with our fellow classmates. Please keep all 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 begin with a big shout-out for classmate Joseph Lubeck, who donated $5 million to the Arts and Sciences Jewish Studies Program, allowing for an endowment of its director position. The gift is named for Joseph’s grandfather, Morris Escoll 1916, a forestry student who graduated in 1916. “One of my life goals has been to honor my grandfather, one of the few Jews on campus in the Class of 1916,” Joseph said. Mr. Escoll wrote about his experience in an award-winning essay called “The Jewish Student on Campus.” Ross Brann, the Milton R. Konvitz Professor of Judeo-Islamic Studies, will hold the initial position as the Morris Escoll 1916 Director of Jewish Studies.

“Having a named directorship increases the prestige of our program,” says Jason Sion Mokhtarian, the Herbert and Stephanie Neuman Professor in Hebrew and Jewish Literature in the Department of Near Eastern Studies, adding that the endowment demonstrates that Cornell is a university that strongly supports Jewish studies. “We hope that this gift will not only have academic impact but will also serve to broaden understanding of the amazing and beautiful history and culture of the Jewish faith throughout all students,” Joseph said. “There is no better weapon in these times than truth.”

Like me, you may not be aware that Cornell had a nursing school for nearly 35 years before closing in 1979. The Cornell School of Nursing closed one year after Brenda DeSalvo Smith-Booth graduated with us in ’78. Now a registered nurse and licensed clinical psychologist, Brenda recalls the NYC-based school as a “treasure,” noting that many leaders in the field were Cornell graduates. “How fine it would be for Cornell to reinstitute a program,” she says.

On an April trip to Paris, Cindy Fuller ’78, PhD ’92, took a workshop at Le Cordon Bleu on viennoiserie (croissants and brioche).

Retirement in California is an easy life for Alexandra Swiecicki Fairfield, PhD ’85, who is volunteering and enjoying access to wine-tasting and outdoor activities. Her life challenges now come during vacations, last summer’s being a one-week swim camp where participants swam around a few of the many islands off the coast of Sibenik, Croatia. Afterward, they toured several historic sites in Split and Dubrovnik, where, Alexandra says, “they could not escape seeing filming locations for ‘Game of Thrones’—but the footprints of the Romans, Venetians, and Ottomans made for fascinating learning!” That was followed by a “very sobering” few days in Mostar and Sarajevo, Bosnia, learning about the Balkan War, which, in Alexandra’s experience, “was as heartbreaking as any World War memorial or museum.” She says Bosnia is beautiful, friendly, interesting, and 50% less expensive than Croatia, but sadly, “it is governed by a triple-ethnic council of co-presidents, and ethnic resentments between all three cultures are just under the surface.”

Cindy Fuller, PhD ’92, is not the retiring type. She’s been doing quality improvement work with the largest cardiac surgery program in Washington State for more than 12 years. On an April trip to Paris, Cindy took a workshop at Le Cordon Bleu on viennoiserie (croissants and brioche). She hasn’t tackled making croissants at home yet, but the workshop definitely upped her brioche game—and use of butter!

As one might expect living in Hawaii, Cynthia Kubas and Paul Varga ’79 were busy welcoming guests this winter. Fred Dreibholz ’77 and his wife, June, spent several days in November and enjoyed time with fellow Hawaii denizen J.C. Henry. “The three Psi Upsilon brothers told many hilarious stories of their antics while at Cornell, sharing fond memories of very happy times,” Cynthia reports.

Roger Hall, BS ’82, MAT ’86, can often be found walking in the woods near his home in Afton, NY, a rural community not far from Ithaca. As a pre-vet student, Roger also remembers being easily psyched out by teachers who he thought were interested in weeding students out of the program. “I was one who was weeded out of pre-vet,” he notes. The most impactful thing he learned at Cornell: “How much I didn’t know!”

Thanks to all who sent in updates; we’d love to hear from more of you about what’s new—or old, as in memories of your time on the Hill. You can email either of us or submit online. ❖ Ilene Shub Lefland (email Ilene) | Cindy Fuller, PhD ’92 (email Cindy) | Alumni Directory.

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1979

Wishing you all a happy spring as I sit down to write this column on what may be the coldest day since last winter. The past year was noteworthy for 50th high school reunions, which I, Larry Bunis, attended in West Orange, NJ. It was great seeing and catching up with people, including some that I have known since elementary school. It was particularly good to see how many people have “aged gracefully” and could be readily recognized. I continue to enjoy my retirement from the practice of law, and in particular going to the gym and spending time with my granddaughter, Layla (who is now 1.5 years old), and my two sons, Robert and Dan ’12, who live nearby, in New Jersey and Delaware.

Members of the Class of ’79 had fun gathering with the classes of ’78, ’80, and ’81, plus family and friends, for pre-game drinks and dinner before heading over to the annual Red Hot Hockey event at Madison Square Garden in New York City. University President Mike Kotlikoff called the coin toss before the traditional game against Boston University, and CU lacrosse star C.J. Kirst ’25 rode the Zamboni around the arena displaying the 2025 NCAA lacrosse championship trophy. This was Cornell’s first national championship since the famed lacrosse teams we rooted for during our time on the Hill. Classmates attending the festivities included Jennifer Grabow Brito, Lon and Lisa Barsanti Hoyt, Peggy Smith, Jeff Ford, Cindy Green, Debbie Seidman, Nancy Sverdlik, Tod Eberle, Roger Yerdon, and Debra Zimmerman Frankel.

We have received news from Katherine Archodis Guzman Sanchez, who reports that she and her husband, Virgilio, a retired New York City firefighter, are spending much of their time traveling to interesting and exotic places such as China, Japan, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Cuba, Ireland, and Australia. They have also been enjoying their dog, Enzo, gardening, and exercising to stay healthy. Katherine is currently teaching part time as a certified diabetic education and care specialist. She reports that her children are all successful and independent, she has five grandchildren, and she also enjoys reconnecting with old friends. The most impactful thing she learned at Cornell was the skill of critical thinking, standing up for the truth, advocating for the underdog, and staying humble enough to listen and learn from others.

Jacqueline Webb ’79 is an associate in ichthyology at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard.

Danni Reich Kleiman has been keeping busy in her retirement, loving and training her 1-year-old German shepherd, Spenser, as well as tutoring kids in math and reading. She also looks forward to reaping the benefits of her own vegetable and flower gardens, and has recently become involved in local politics. Danni was an integral part of celebrating family events, in which she was the photographer for the wedding of one of her nieces and the baby shower for another niece. She is thankful for learning to work hard at Cornell, to persevere when things don’t go smoothly, and to value the process, not just the result.

Ken Wilson has retired from bridge engineering and project management and has become an adjunct professor at Geneva College, where he teaches a course titled Christian Ethics and Engineering and also leads a student ministry with the Navigators. He also finds much joy in writing books, leading small groups, playing guitar in a church band, and spending time with his wife, Mimi, two children, and six grandchildren, as well as a group of longtime friends.

Jacqueline Webb retired in 2024 after 31 years as a biology professor. She is currently serving as chair of the Shoals Marine Laboratory’s Alumni and Friends Association, and is an associate in ichthyology at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard, where she continues her research.

We are always looking for more news. Please send updates on your travels, jobs, retirements, and other personal and family news via the Share Your News form, the online news form, or emails sent directly to any of our class correspondents: ❖ Larry Bunis (email Larry) | Linda Moses (email Linda) | Cynthia Ahlgren Shea (email Cynthia) | Alumni Directory.

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1980s

1980

Ah, those halcyon days of yore! In our undergrad days, I tried to impress a potential love interest, a budding ornithologist, by starting what birders call a “life list.” Entry number one was “duck.” I got up to seven birds but, despite my diligence, she ignored me.

During finals week, the Straight wouldn’t charge for coffee or tea in an effort to keep Ezra’s children awake. As I walked past the cashier, tea bag label fluttering around my cup, I stopped to chat her up. She pointed out that I had a mini-marshmallow stuck to my mustache, and that I had to pay, as the Straight did not serve mini-marshmallows, other than in hot chocolate. I stated that I was broke and didn’t want tea or coffee, and she made me sign an IOU. I paid for the hot chocolate the next day, stopped counting ducks, and my love life eventually improved. I look back on it fondly now, and they were better off without me anyway.

Jeff Winton is CEO of Rural Minds, a nonprofit he founded after the suicide of his beloved nephew, Brooks Winton. His mission, and the mission of Rural Minds, is “ending the suffering, silence, and stigma surrounding mental illness in rural America.” The Washington Post recently featured a letter by Jeff that addressed negative repercussions if Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits were allowed to expire, the most damaging being the inability of many people in rural America to afford health insurance. Rural Minds advocates for 46 million Americans in rural areas, where access to mental health services is already limited by distance, provider shortages, and financial barriers.

In an interview with the BBC, Jeff talked about the impact of tariffs on farmers, which included discussion of the attendant financial stress’s effect on mental health. He shared that tariffs spawn unintended consequences, and cause pain for many folk working in agriculture.

In an interview with the BBC, Jeff Winton ’80 talked about the impact of tariffs on farmers.

Randi Weingarten has published a new book titled Why Fascists Fear Teachers. She states, “Fascists fear teachers because they teach young people how to think for themselves.” A press release announcing the publication of the book states, “As the head of one of the largest teachers’ unions in America, Randi Weingarten is among the last lines of defense for American public education. For decades, she has sounded the alarm that attacks on teachers are part of a larger, darker agenda—to undermine democracy, opportunity, and public education as we know it.” The press release continues: “A manifesto for our time, Why Fascists Fear Teachers is necessary reading for every American worried about the future of our democracy.”

Yours truly, Dik Saalfeld, is enjoying retirement in the glorious state of Vermont. My bride and I, having lived in urban areas for decades, are used to a different pace; the new pace is welcome, but requires adjustment. In anticipation of a harsh winter, I ordered a sauna. My better half insisted that we hire a carpenter to add supports to the deck upon which the sauna would rest, and that she didn’t trust my carpentry skills, no offense.

On a sunny August day, said carpenter was engaged. He showed up in December, during the first major snowstorm of the season, which means I get to assemble the thing, outside, in 10° weather. The reasons for the delay include, but are not limited to, deer season, turkey season, and earning more money elsewhere. But soon we will be basking in our glass-walled sauna, looking out over the glories of Mother Nature, our first-world problems melting away like the crayon I left on the heater in Mrs. Hill’s kindergarten class in 1963. ❖ Dik Saalfeld (email Dik) | Chas Horvath, ME ’81 (email Chas) | David Durfee (email David) | Karen Vecchio DeFusco (email Karen) | Alumni Directory.

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1981

Wow—springtime 2026 already. How did that happen? So much has been going on, and time really does fly when you’re … well, living. Let’s catch up.

First things first: Reunion! Before you read another word, check your calendar and make sure June 4–7, 2026 is circled in red. Yes, it’s our 45th Reunion, and it’s happening whether we’re ready or not!

We’ll be headquartered in the beautiful Alice Cook House, with plenty of time for reconnecting, laughing, reminiscing, and meeting classmates we may not have known back in the day. We’re also planning a class panel on “What do I want to be when I grow up?”—or, more accurately, how we’re figuring out this next chapter of life. Expect wisdom, humor, and probably a few surprises.

There will be lots of great University programs, plus plenty of time to just enjoy Ithaca at one of its most gorgeous times of year. Laura Dake Roche can help you wrangle friends or affinity groups to come along—and this is a perfect moment to start nudging your Cornell besties, too. This website has our 45th Reunion information, so please check it out!

I recently ran into Howie Borkan and Sue Levitt while I was in NYC and am hoping that was just a warm-up for seeing them again in Ithaca. Hint, hint. I really hope you’re planning to come—Big Red forever!

For more than four decades, 2025 Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award recipient Lisa Kremer Ullmann ’81 has devoted herself to Cornell University. A Cornell National Scholar from Memphis, TN, Lisa was deeply involved as a student, serving as president of Sigma Delta Tau, chair of Cornell Ambassadors, a member of Quill & Dagger, and a tour guide. “For four years, I walked around backwards a lot on campus,” she joked.

Her Cornell service began at her 5th Reunion and grew into nearly 45 years of continuous volunteer leadership. A longtime class officer, she has helped organize Red Hot Hockey tickets for the Class of 1981 since the event’s inception and has participated in eight Reunions. Lisa met her husband, Michael Ullmann ’80, as a fellow history major, and Cornell became a family tradition when their son Matt ’12 attended Arts and Sciences and met his wife, Sheri Jiang Ullmann ’12, at Cornell.

Lisa’s leadership expanded through roles on the Cornell University Council and the President’s Council of Cornell Women, and as co-chair of the National Annual Fund Leadership Committee. She recently joined the Cornell Library Advisory Council and now co-chairs the Cornell Club of Southwest Florida. “Doing the greatest good is embedded in Cornellians,” Lisa said—a philosophy reflected in her decades of service and honored by the Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award.

One of the highlights of my year was an unforgettable trip to Israel with a group of women through Momentum, in partnership with my synagogue, Temple Beth El of Boca Raton. Twenty of us went on an intense, inspiring, eight-day journey filled with incredible speakers, visits to the Western Wall and the Nova Exhibit, and—best of all—deep connections with one another. (Side note: if you have a child under 18 at home, you’re eligible to apply.)

In 2015, Mark Jackson ’81, JD ’85, launched the First Amendment Clinic at Cornell Law School.

I also visited Hadassah Hospital and a youth village near Haifa that is home to 300 Ukrainian and other refugees, along with 300 day students. I came home feeling awed, grateful, and very proud of the fundraising work I continue to do for Hadassah. Truly a trip I’ll never forget.

Closer to home, Ella is halfway through her sophomore year at the University of Florida, studying sports journalism (go Gators!). Brayden is a junior at Dreyfoos School of the Arts and is already thinking about summer, when he’ll be teaching volleyball at his former sleepaway camp, Cedar Lake Camp, in Milford, PA. Full-circle moments are the best.

Phebe Ladd Swope still laughs on her way to work—and when you hear what she does, you’ll understand why. She works for the Department of Defense’s Missile Defense Agency, building and troubleshooting servers for space sensors that often make the news. Quite a leap from her master’s degree in dairy science and her days of milking cows and calculating feed rations!

Phebe loves being part of her family’s long tradition of service. She may not have been active duty like her father and brothers, but she’s proud to be helping protect the country. She’s hoping to retire next year and spend her time training younger coworkers (a.k.a. “the children”), and laughing about the generational language gap—she doesn’t get modern media, and they don’t speak “dinosaur.” Her youngest just headed to the U.K. for a master’s in psychology, which, conveniently, gave Phebe an excellent excuse to tour Scotland. Not bad at all.

Anita Lichtblau was recognized in the Best Lawyers in America 2026 list for her work in nonprofit/charities law. Anita is an attorney at Casner & Edwards, where more than 60% of the firm was selected for the 2026 edition—impressive! The firm was also top-listed statewide and in the Boston metro area for family law and nonprofit/charities law. Big congratulations to Anita and her colleagues.

Mark Jackson, JD ’85, has had a career that reads like a case study in interesting pivots. After defending news outlets in private practice, he went in-house at HarperCollins, then became general counsel at Dow Jones, publisher of the Wall Street Journal. In 2015, he took another turn—launching the First Amendment Clinic at Cornell Law School.

For the past six-plus years, Mark has largely funded the clinic through foundation grants. Now Cornell Law is raising a $1 million endowment to create the Mark H. Jackson Director of the First Amendment Clinic. They’re off to a strong start, with $265,000 already raised and more commitments in the works. Mark has been reconnecting with Cornell friends (including our own Brian Coyne) to help make it happen. We’re cheering him on.

Your turn! Please don’t be shy—reach out and let me know what you’re up to. Promotions, passions, travel, new chapters … I want to hear it all. Warmly: ❖ Betsy Silverfine (email Betsy) | Alumni Directory.

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1982

Our Reunion weekend is June 10–13, 2027. Perhaps you have received the survey regarding events and activities. It is not too early to start making plans! As I hope you know, it is always a great weekend to reconnect with classmates.

We received news from Lynn Stefanowicz, who reports, “I retired in February 2025 after a 40-year career in behavioral health. My last position led to a relocation to Maryland, though I remain a ‘Jersey girl’ at heart. I credit my classes with Professor Mack and my campus volunteer work with EARS as sparking the interest in mental health. I’m serving on the board for Well Spouse Association, a group supporting spousal caregivers, and for the Metro Baltimore affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.”

In other news, our classmate Jamie Hintlian, ME ’85, MBA ’86, and his wife, Carolyn Bristor Hintlian ’83, MS ’86, were featured in a recent Cornellians article concerning their family-run business, Teddie Peanut Butter Company. It’s a fantastic piece that traces the history of the business through three generations of Jamie’s family, including his father, Jim Hintlian ’49, and reports on the popularity of its peanut butter. Jamie has been serving as the CEO of the business since 2023 (while also serving as a senior lecturer at the Johnson College of Business), and Carolyn has been serving as the company’s technical director. Congratulations, Jamie and Carolyn, on this well-deserved recognition.

As you consider your Reunion plans, please remember that we are always looking forward to hearing from you. Your news helps us stay connected as a class. Please send us your news via the online news form. ❖ Doug Skalka (email Doug) | Mark Fernau (email Mark) | Nina Kondo (email Nina) | Alumni Directory.

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1983

Happy spring! More than 30 members from the Class of ’83 made it to Red Hot Hockey during Thanksgiving weekend at Madison Square Garden. Our class went all out for premium seats this year (just off center ice) and witnessed a thrilling and very close game against BU. The classes of ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, and ’83 shared a pre-game get-together at Gibney’s NYC. And there was a big pep rally outside the Garden with the Big Red Band in full splendor! (Fun events at press time included tickets to and pre-games at Cornell-Yale men’s hockey on January 30 organized by Ellen Bobka, and at the Cornell-Princeton game on February 21 planned by Nancy Gilroy.)

When she’s not helping the class organize Red Hot Hockey tickets, for which we are grateful, Lynn Leopold loves to travel. “In August last year I went with Julie Lorentzon on a 19-day cruise through Greenland. We hiked, toured, and explored. We were in Nuuk, Nanortalik, Qaqortoq, and Paamiut, and in Canada to Sydney, Corner Brook, and Halifax, where we went on a bike tour. The coolest thing was climbing to the top of the mountains in Qaqortoq and watching a tugboat move an iceberg! The funniest was probably during the wine tasting, attempting to drink all 16 wines (and, of course, the aftereffects). We laughed so much. We’re talking about future trips!”

The quarterly TechChat ’83 Series is exciting and successful. It is held quarterly via Zoom, with the next ones scheduled for February 5, May 7, August 6, and November 5. Look out for announcement emails. All classmates are invited to join for informative and animated discussions!

Yonn Kouh Rasmussen, PhD ’89, class vice president, hosted the sixth TechChat on August 14 with the provocative topic of human exploration and settlement on Mars, titled “Space Exploration to Mars—Aspiration or Reality.” Yonn shared two TED Talks, “Your kids might live on Mars. Here’s how they’ll survive” and “The exploration and colonization of Mars: Why Mars? Why humans?”

Big thank you to Niels Nielsen for the write-up: “The group had a lively conversation about whether going to Mars was feasible and if it should be done at all. We all grew up with the Apollo space program and remember men landing on the moon. We are in a golden age of astronomy, with telescopes on Earth and in space, robot missions to Mars and the other planets, and the growing likelihood that we will discover evidence of life in the solar system and around other stars. Cornell astronomers are working on all these discoveries and more.

More than 30 members from the Class of ’83 made it to Red Hot Hockey during Thanksgiving weekend at Madison Square Garden.

Stewart Glickman ’83

“The strongest argument for human exploration may be that we all need to be inspired by great achievements, as much now as ever. However, we were skeptical about the cost (half a trillion dollars) and the environmental impact on Earth and Mars. Despite the optimism of the TED speakers, we questioned whether any significant number of people could travel to another planet without a breakthrough in propulsion and if people could really live somewhere other than our blue planet. And we questioned whether Mars travel would be like space tourism today—too expensive for all but a few.”

Yonn summed up the November 13 “Advances in Food Production,” which was the final TechChat ’83 for 2025. “We watched the first five minutes of the two TED Talks: ‘A forgotten space age technology could change how we grow food’ by Lisa Dyson and ‘The case for engineering our food’ by Pamela Ronald. The first talk focused on a NASA-developed technology that uses hydrogenotrophs to grow food more efficiently and quickly while using much less land than modern conventional agricultural methods. As the human population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, the need for more effective and sustainable agricultural methods is greater than ever.

The second talk discussed the benefits and risks of genetically engineering our food. Many genetically engineered foods—such as new varieties of rice, including golden rice enriched with Vitamin A, or flood-resistant rice crops, which have much higher yields in flood-prone parts of the world—have been developed in recent decades. For some people, however, there are concerns about the safety or unintended ecological consequences of genetically engineered crops. We had a lively discussion about the benefits and risks of genetically engineered foods, as well as the need for sustainable agriculture, especially as the effects of climate change become more pronounced in the future.”

Classmates, our 45th Reunion is only two years away—wow, time flies! It will be a wonderful weekend of friendship and fun. Volunteers and ideas are welcome! In the meantime, keep on sending in news for Class Notes. We love to hear from everybody.

Happy and healthy 2026 to all. ❖ Stewart Glickman (email Stewart) | Alyssa Bickler (email Alyssa) | Nancy Korn Freeman (email Nancy) | Jon Felice (email Jon) | Alumni Directory.

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1984

Jim Perkins, BA ’85, was recently featured in a Cornellians story titled “This Arts & Sciences Alum Marries Art and Science, Every Day.” A medical illustrator, Jim has created thousands of visuals for textbooks and more that help students understand biological processes, clinical concepts, and anatomical structures across scientific subjects.

“I create visual media to communicate complex medical information,” explains Jim, who produces artwork for books and scholarly articles across a variety of fields, including anatomy, pathology, physiology, neuroscience, oncology, and histology. “It’s teaching and problem solving with pictures.”

According to the story, “Perkins is the sole or main illustrator of several editions of top medical textbooks such as Netter’s Atlas of Neuroscience, Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology, and Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease.

“He’s also on the faculty at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he directs the MFA program in medical illustration; he’s a 1992 alum of the program, one of only five of its kind offered in North America. Perkins has received some of his field’s top honors, including the British Medical Association’s Illustrated Book Award and the Association of Medical Illustrators’ Brödel Award for Excellence in Education.” ❖ Michael Held (email Michael) | Charles Oppenheim (email Charles) | Alumni Directory.

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1985

“Not all Cornellian stories translate to success upon graduating,” shares Thomas Gregory Jr. in a recent note. “I spent 12 years living homeless, and I learned a lot about the process of recovering from many negatives. Cornell was always with me—even on the street.

“My degree focusing on macro sociality brought a negative into a positive experience. I never gave up on being a Cornellian. President Rhodes once said to me, in regard to Cornell students, ‘The cream always rises to the top.’

“I have become studious in the topic of admiralty law, and when not working, I’m applying my now extensive research on a historical analysis of the development of the admiralty from 1775 to the 1800s. I’m 78 this April, but not retired. I work for Heidelberg Materials as a ready-mix concrete truck driver. It pays for my home (which I own) and research—including my research library of more than 300 books.

“Two immense factors saved me from complete ruin, which I focused upon to regain self-esteem and the climb out of near death, which is what homelessness actually is. One factor was my military affinity with the U.S. Marine Corps, and the other was Cornell. Cornell equipped me with both knowledge and an ability to apply it to a situation that for many seems an impossibility to remove themselves from. An education can be an asset upon which to develop following failure.” ❖ Class of 1985 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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1986

As we approach our 40th Reunion in Ithaca this summer (please mark your calendars for June 4–7, 2026), our classmates are filling many different roles these days. Some are starting new companies, some are continuing long-established careers and volunteering for great causes, and some are retiring and enjoying free time to travel and be with family. It is always wonderful to hear what you are up to, so please continue to send us your news.

Paul Peterson writes from Petaluma, CA: “Two years after founding my latest company, an insights-based innovation consultancy, CoinJar Insights, I published my first book on the topic of innovation and product development called The Catalytic Customer: Accelerating Innovation and Growth from the Outside In.”

From the book’s website, “The Catalytic Customer introduces a bold, practical way forward: stop chasing the average customer, and start learning from the ones who push you. The ones who challenge assumptions, see what others miss, and care enough to tell you the hard truths. These are your ‘catalytic customers’—and they just might be the difference between a product that flops and one that flies.

“Based on decades inside the rooms where product, strategy, and marketing decisions get made, this book arms you with tools to find these customers, learn from them, and build smarter, faster, and with more relevance. Whether you’re a product lead, founder, insights pro, or innovation exec, this is your new playbook for staying close to what matters.”

Christina Ho Filemyr retired from Exxon Mobil Corp. in 2019 and is enjoying traveling internationally with her husband and grown daughters, who are both management consultants. In addition, she spends a lot of time caring for her parents, who are both in their 90s, in Vienna, VA.

Julie Bick Weed is enjoying improvisational comedy classes and helping low-income high school seniors with their college admissions essays. She is still freelancing for the New York Times from her home in Seattle. You can read her work on her website. ❖ Lori Spydell Wagner (email Lori) | Michael Wagner (email Michael) | Toby Goldsmith (email Toby) | Alumni Directory.

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1987

Lawrence Smith leveraged his commission from Cornell Army ROTC with a 30-year career in the Army Reserves that included deployments to the Pentagon, Afghanistan, and Korea. Now he lives in Westminster, MD, and splits his time between singing in a band named Release, developing business for a third-party logistics company near the Port of Baltimore, and training and breeding Thoroughbred racehorses with his wife, Connie, at their Pioneer Farm.

In recent years, Larry organized racehorse partnerships with some of his Phi Kappa Psi brothers, including one on a homebred they named after the iconic West Campus purveyor of pizza subs: Hot Truck Bob. Ultimately, there was no pot of gold at the end of Bob’s racehorse rainbow, and Bob is now the beloved partner of a young horse-show girl. Larry’s current racehorse syndication is a 3-year-old filly named Last Treasure, and a few shares remain open, if anyone is interested in joining them! Larry is a strong believer in the adage: “You don’t get out of horse racing when you get old, you get old when you get out of horse racing.”

In November Gabriel Boyar interviewed Tony Spring, who is the chairman and CEO of Macy’s Inc., about his career in retail management and about the history of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Tony began his career in 1987 at Bloomingdale’s as an executive trainee in the White Plains, NY, store. The interview was part of the Cornell Class of 1987 E-Learning Series.

In recent years, Larry Smith ’87 organized racehorse partnerships with some of his Phi Kappa Psi brothers, including one named Hot Truck Bob.

The Class of 1987 made a big showing at the annual Red Hot Hockey game at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In attendance were: Jeff Cohen, Josephine Connolly-Schoonen, Michael De Sarno, Jill Israeloff Gross, Marc Lacey, Edwin Lee, David Levy, Robert Maxon, Scott Pesner, Sharon Raider, Lloyd Robinson, Stacey Neuhoefer Silberzweig, Carl Sornson, Debra Howard Stern, Tom Tseng, ME ’94, Roberta Tulman Samuels, JD ’90, and Whitney Weinstein Goodman.

The year of regional 60th birthday celebrations last year ended with a November 21 get-together of classmates in Sydney, Australia. There were a total of 12 birthday parties in 2025.

There are a few of us, including me (Liz Brown) who didn’t turn 60 until this year. Part of my birthday celebration included having dinner in New York City with Whitney Goodman and Cheryl Berger Israeloff. Later that week, Whitney and family came to visit me at my home near Philadelphia and to drink and dance at a surprise birthday party arranged by husband and friends. The following day we saw the Henri Rousseau exhibition at the Barnes Foundation and also went to the recently opened Calder Gardens museum. Whitney and I were fortunate to have seen the Barnes collection in its original location in Merion, PA, during our college years.

Please take a moment to send us your news! ❖ Liz Brown, JD ’90 (email Liz) | Whitney Weinstein Goodman (email Whitney) | Alumni Directory.

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1988

Welcome to spring, Class of ’88, and that means the start of the Major League Baseball season. On the topic of sports teams, several of our classmates attended the Cornell men’s hockey game at Madison Square Garden in New York City this past fall. Jill Fields was joined by Diane Weisbrot Nagle, Howard and Pamela Goldberg Greenstein, Jacques Boubli, and several others. Unfortunately, Cornell came up short and lost the game.

Meanwhile, at another Cornell men’s hockey game, against Harvard, Victor Seidel, professor at Babson College, watched alongside fellow classmates Elizabeth Altman, Deborah Blazey-Martin, and Ross Martin. Go Big Red!

On a side note: Victor also attended a talk by John Cleese, a former Cornell A.D. White Professor-at-Large, where Mr. Cleese spoke about his successful film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Barry Wolfert ’88 is running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Georgia’s 11th Congressional District.

Residing in New York City, Inson Dubois Wood, BArch ’91, has a luxury residential design firm. His work can be seen in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, and Vogue Living Magazine, and he has published a top-selling coffee-table book titled Inson Dubois Wood: Interiors. He is the youngest recipient of the Christopher Hyland Award for lifetime achievement in design excellence. Congratulations, Inson, on your accomplishment. He is married to Elba Galvan, a Cornell alum, and they share three sons: Kai ’23, Kri, and Croix.

Stacy Schulist, MBA ’01, writes in that she has been on several bike adventures through the Blue Ridge Mountains, Gulf Islands, Vermont, and Quebec. She is a busy consultant for restaurants and hotels in both Guatemala and El Salvador. Stacy also works with students through Cornell’s Experiential Networking class and mentors marketing professionals. She and Laura Bloch have been friends for nearly 40 years. Their friendship started on campus when they used to explore Ithaca together, searching for the nearest sushi bar.

Lastly, Barry Wolfert is running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Georgia’s 11th Congressional District. He’s a self-employed real estate agent and is tired of the burden that families are facing these days, from the healthcare costs, rising costs of owning a home and retirement, to the overall cost of living. We wish you well, Barry, in your campaign.

Enjoy the longer days of springtime and the blooming flowers. That’s all for now. Please keep sending your news to me. I love hearing from our classmates, both near and far. ❖ Pamela Darer Anderson (email Pam) | Alumni Directory.

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1989

Fellow ’89 classmates: We need news! Our supply has dried up, so please send us updates about you and classmates you keep in touch with! Please submit your news online here or email any of us (see the end of the column for our addresses). This column is only as good (and as long) as the news we get. Thank you to everyone who sent me an update about themselves or others last minute.

Deb Silverman Shames wrote, “I’m in my 23rd year of my college counseling practice (Personal Best College Coaching), while also working as the transfer advisor for the Kaplan Leadership Program CCBO, where I’ve been for the past 18 years. I find both to be incredibly rewarding, as I get to help young and not-so-young people work toward finding their best-fit colleges. Martin (also ’89) is entering his 24th year at PSEG in the finance division. We are finally done with college tuition, as our youngest just finished her BFA in studio art/glassblowing from RIT, while our middle daughter (CU ’22) works on her PhD in linguistics at University at Buffalo and our oldest son works in the sports media world in NYC, eight years out of Syracuse Newhouse.

“We are taking advantage of the empty nest to travel more, while pursuing our passion for long-distance walking around the world! Last spring we put 160 miles on our fitness trackers (and feet) over two weeks in the U.K. and France! Our philosophy is ‘move or die!’ and we’re enjoying every minute of it! Being in Northern New Jersey, we’ve also been lucky to spend lots of time in NYC walking and seeing Broadway shows with Jennifer Gise Zeligson and her husband, Andrew (who also live in New Jersey). I’m also still in touch with Gayle Shomer Brezicki, who lives in Davidson, NC, and Sandi Von Holden-Bitton, who lives in Israel. I also love seeing Stephanie Walsh Prato and catching up on a long walk whenever I’m in our hometown of Rochester, NY.”

Last spring we put 160 miles on our fitness trackers (and feet) over two weeks in the U.K. and France!

Deb Silverman Shames ’89

Gayle Shomer Brezicki sent an update: “My youngest son, Evan ’28, is a sophomore in chemical engineering and absolutely loves Cornell! Although he grew up in North Carolina, he has embraced the cold weather and snow. He plays piano with the Cornell Piano Society and plans to become a chimesmaster in January. I visit the Hill when I can and had a great time at Homecoming. My two sons and I visited Scotland this summer and they loved their first international trip.”

John Dunn said his new motto is “boring since 1967,” as there’s nothing new about him, but he did tell us his daughter, Kate ’25, graduated from Cornell in May and that the two of them scattered his dad’s (Class of 1959) ashes a lot of places on campus that were really important to him, like the golf course and his fraternity house.

Fellow correspondent Kris Borovicka Gerig told me that Chris Pavone’s latest book, The Doorman, was on the New York Times Best Thriller Books of 2025 list. Congrats, Chris!

That’s all the news for this column. Please take a few minutes now or whenever you can to send us some news. Thanks! ❖ Stephanie Bloom Avidon (email Stephanie) | Anne Czaplinski Treadwell (email Anne) | Kris Borovicka Gerig (email Kris) | Lauren Kidder McGarry (email Lauren) | Alumni Directory.

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1990s

1990

Hello, classmates! As I start this column, we’re in the middle of a cold and snowy week in New Jersey at the end of 2025; by the time you read this, spring weather should be approaching. I hope 2026 has been good to you so far!

My 2025 wound down with a variety of plans with Cornell classmates. First, my husband, Aron Minken ’80, and I continued our annual Thanksgiving tradition of going to Red Hot Hockey at Madison Square Garden, where Cornell faced off against (and, sadly, lost to) Boston U. In addition to being joined this year by my son and his girlfriend, who are BU alumni, we sat with my former roommate, Deborah Klein Glasser, her husband, Gary, and their son, William ’29, who were visiting the New York/New Jersey area for Thanksgiving from Toronto, where they’ve lived for the past six years. William is in the Engineering college and is loving his first year at Cornell. Between periods at the game, I bumped into Andrew and Arlene Goldstein Stein, who celebrated the wedding of their son Brandon ’21 to Rachel Beinus last August in NYC, with a bunch of their Cornell friends in attendance. Congratulations to all! Other classmates at Red Hot Hockey included Melissa Chalson Leff and Michelle Stuzin Katz.

In December I met up for dinner with Jill Turner Lever and Vivian Althaus Harrow, fellow ILRies who also live in New Jersey. Jill is of counsel at the law firm Sills Cummis & Gross, where she has practiced employment law for many years. The day after our dinner, Vivian, her husband, Alex Harrow, Aron, and I, along with Michele Waltzer Posen and her husband, Andrew, enjoyed re-living the 1980s at a Foreigner concert in Montclair, NJ.

As Vivian commented, it was a “full-circle moment” for her since she saw Foreigner in concert 40 years ago in 1985. Michele, who also lives in New Jersey, shared that her four daughters are “growing up too fast,” with her 25-year-old twins living together in Hoboken, NJ, and working together in pharma, her middle daughter a senior at University of Georgia, and her youngest daughter a freshman at University of Florida. Michele says, “I’m trying to enjoy these years with travel and seeing my Cornell friends.”

Amy Dumas Wadman wrote in to share that she works for the federal government and that, while she is currently furloughed, she is looking forward to retiring once the furlough is over. “In the meantime, we have taken advantage of the ‘time off’ to meet family in Sedona and Venice. I’m excited that my friend Sanjay Joshi has moved closer to me. I can’t wait to catch up with my college roommates Melora Doan, Charlene Ushijima Tilker, and Gloria Rodriguez in December. Then I’ll start my next chapter that will include working in equine therapy.”

I have found my new home in a 250-year-old stone house in a village of 80 overlooking the Adriatic, and I have never been happier.

Penny Smith Eifrig ’90

Penny Smith Eifrig also wrote in to describe the very interesting life she has been leading between Europe and the U.S., currently focused on expanding pickleball in Croatia: “2025 brought me full circle to a bike trip through Yugoslavia the year of my graduation. I ended up back in Croatia in 2023 to help bring pickleball to a few locals getting interested, in exchange for a place to stay for a little bit. I fell in love with the island of Brač, where I had been invited, and I returned that fall to share it with friends.

“Finally, in summer 2024 I returned with the photos from my 1990 adventure, and, long story short, my friends recognized the old woman who had shared water and kindness with us three decades prior as their childhood neighbor. I rediscovered the house and was shown through it, and ultimately was asked if I would like to buy it. So in March 2025 I did, and I have found my new home in a 250-year-old stone house in a village of 80 overlooking the Adriatic, and I have never been happier.”

Penny spends her time “growing community through pickleball on the island of Brač, sharing stories, learning languages, picking olives, and drinking kava with both the longtime locals and the newer residents.” She adds, “I’m still running my children’s book-publishing company, Eifrig Publishing, from afar, but really focusing now on building pickleball throughout Croatia, bringing guests to experience the local culture and historic and natural wonders, and finding joy and light.”

To find out more about Penny’s pickleball enterprise in Croatia, you can visit her website. Penny is able to live abroad now because her kids are grown and doing good work: “Casie graduated from Amherst College this year and has a job offer in design in Boston, and Saede has been working for DC Scores since graduating from Haverford College in 2021.”

Is anyone else in our class living abroad or pursuing a passion like Penny? Please write in and tell us what you are up to! ❖ Nancy Solomon Weiss (email Nancy) | Allan Rousselle (email Allan) | Liselle Petzen Esposito (email Liselle) | Rose Tanasugarn (email Rose) | Class Facebook page | Alumni Directory.

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1991

Greetings from Southern Maine, where a blanket of snow is settling over us. Our classmates have sent in some interesting news—stories of creativity and achievement.

Miki Yoshimoto shared that she enjoys going to intimate chamber concerts and traveling with her family. She has started her own handmade sustainable goods business. Her son is at UT Austin studying violin performance and her daughter is applying to colleges, with her first choice being Cornell, to study environmental engineering.

Won Choo wrote in to say he’s been married 26 years and has a son and daughter. His son graduated from Emory University and works at J.P. Morgan and his daughter is a senior at University of Chicago. Won owns two companies in the transportation and logistics industry and employs around 350 people.

Timothy Reed recalled when Michael Vargas scored the game-winning touchdown in his first sprint football game for Cornell, a 12-7 win at West Point over Army. Along with his love of family life, Timothy works as an anesthesiologist in Winter Garden, FL. Timothy credits a Cornell colleague for inspiring him to study medicine after an engineering undergrad degree.

Kevin Kordziel wrote in about his new thriller Perpetuity, which was released in August 2025. It tells the story of a doctor and an enigmatic woman running for their lives while trying to solve a futuristic medical mystery. Kevin worked as a lawyer after graduating from Cornell in 1991 and Duke Law School in 1994. Today he writes full time under his pen name Kevin Joseph.

After a ‘30-year gap year,’ Kim Brown Bixler ’91 went back to school at 52 to earn her MFA degree from the NYU Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program.

Julie Kaufman Betancur writes to share the news that, after 20 years in HR across tech, professional services, and consumer packaged goods, she has launched her own career coaching and talent consulting practice, Talent Right Partners.

Continuing with the impressive creativity of our classmates, Kim Brown Bixler shared that, after a “30-year gap year,” she went back to school at 52 to earn her MFA degree from the NYU Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. She wittily suggested that a mid-life crisis is more enjoyable set to show tunes. Hard to disagree with that. In addition to two shows—BARBA: Brazilian Body Percussion Musical and a Spanish language production in Costa Rica—she gave a TEDx Talk about creative reinvention and the beauty of second (or third) acts. It was called “Why I Couldn’t be a Musical Theater Writer Until I Turned 50.”

José Enrique Medina wrote a poetry book called Haunt Me, which came out in September 2025. It earned the prestigious Rattle Chapbook Prize. This collection asks: What do we inherit from those who vanish? And what becomes of us when the ones we long for stay silent—while those we tried to forget come back, again and again, to remind us who we are?

Impressive news, please continue to share updates with your correspondents. ❖ Wendy Milks Coburn (email Wendy) | Joe Marraccino (email Joe) | Susie Curtis Schneider (email Susie) | Evelyn Achuck Yue (email Evelyn) | Ruby Wang Pizzini (email Ruby) | Alumni Directory.

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1992

I’m writing this column the morning after Philadelphia’s first big snowstorm of the winter. By the time you read this, snow will likely be gone for the year … Time flies and I hope your holidays were bright! My family kicked off our holiday season by attending Red Hot Hockey at Madison Square Garden in NYC the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This has become an annual tradition for us! A quick Facebook post showed the Class of 1992 could still “Yell for Cornell.” Here’s a Big Red list of who shared they were there: Allison Bergstrom, Lisa Everts, Todd Kantorczyk (my husband), Steve Labovitz, Stacey Rappaport, Michael Sapherstein, Heidi Grenek, ME ’93, Alyssa Cohen, Shelli Klein Faber, and Naoto Kawamura.

Speaking of sports in cold settings, on a crisp November day, Brad Ginesin represented Cornell at the NYC Marathon while raising money for Cornell’s NYC Scholarship Fund with three recent alums. They raised more than $13K for NYC students to help with the cost of attending Cornell. Brad wrote, “I’m blessed to have such kind and generous friends. The energy in NYC on the course was incomparable, and the crowds were loud and high-spirited, especially in Brooklyn—it was so much fun to see the best of New York. A big thank you to all the Cornellians who volunteered at water stations—which helps allocate charity spots for Cornell—and all the spectators cheering for Big Red!”

Another classmate doing good work is Elena Brower. She wrote a healing book called Hold Nothing: An Invitation to Let Go and Come Home to Yourself. From her publisher’s bio, “Elena is a mother, mentor, artist, teacher, best-selling author, and host of the Practice You podcast. She has taught yoga and meditation since 1999. After graduating from Cornell, she designed textiles and apparel for almost a decade before focusing on yoga, meditation, art, and writing. Her first book, Art of Attention, has been translated into seven languages; her second, Practice You, is a best seller, and is utilized as a teaching tool in a variety of settings. Elena’s yoga classes and meditations are featured on Glo.”

On a crisp November day, Brad Ginesin ’92 represented Cornell at the NYC Marathon while raising money for Cornell’s NYC Scholarship Fund.

Another author is Tish Oney, who lives in South Carolina. She wrote two books, Jazz Singing: A Guide to Pedagogy and Performance and best seller Peggy Lee: A Century of Song, which earned a starred review from Library Journal. Tish recently led a webinar/short course for the Voice Study Centre at the University of Essex and the University of Wales Trinity St. David in the U.K. It was titled “Establishing a Jazz Voice Curriculum” for the Master of Arts in voice pedagogy degree. She also serves as director of ministry at Open Hearts UMC.

Last March, she led the Tish Oney Jazz Orchestra in a two-hour big band concert at Centre Stage in Greenville, SC. Tish serves as mentoring chair for the Jazz Education Network Research Interest Group. She is on the editorial boards for two peer-reviewed journals, The Journal of Singing and Jazz Education in Research and Practice. She is also on the editorial board for NATS-Bloomsbury Books (National Association of Teachers of Singing). Tish is married to George Gabor ’89.

Please share your news with us via email or the online news form. Be well and take good care. ❖ Jean Kintisch (email Jean) | Sarah Ballow Clauss (email Sarah) | Wilma Ann Thomas Anderson (email Wilma Ann) | Alumni Directory.

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1993

“Hi everyone!” writes Regina Minasso Soares dos Santos. “After raising our girls in Rye, NY, Luiz Soares and I are now splitting time between the U.S. and Brazil. We enjoy visiting our youngest daughter at Cornell in Arts and Sciences and our oldest, who just graduated from Harvard, in Texas. We would love to connect with Cornellians who decide to fly south!”

Abigail Wilentz shares, “I’m an Arts & Sciences alum, comparative lit major. I have just coauthored, with Suzanne Loebl, Plunder and Survival: Stories of Theft, Loss, Recovery, and Migration of Nazi-Uprooted Art. The book was released on October 16, 2025 from Bloomsbury Academic. (Though it’s not a textbook—very much for a general audience—they are placing it under the general category of history.) It’s 240 pages and illustrated throughout with 25 pieces of art; available in hardcover as well as an eBook.” ❖ Mia Blackler (email Mia) | Melissa Hart Moss, JD ’97 (email Melissa) | Theresa Flores (email Theresa) | Alumni Directory.

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1994

Lori DiLorenzo Buszkiewicz still greatly enjoys her work as medical director at an inpatient detox/continuing care unit. “I meet very interesting people and it’s nice to find purpose in helping them. I also am loving watching my four daughters go off to college and graduate college and high school.

“Oldest daughter Sara graduated in May from Smith College and is now applying to med school. Second daughter Jen is a sophomore in engineering at University of Michigan. Husband just took a new job and is commuting from Massachusetts to California once a month. Cornell taught me to listen to, talk with, and learn from people of all backgrounds with different points of view.”

A new Disney Channel series, “Electric Bloom,” was co-created by our very own Eric Friedman! The show follows the three members of the world-famous pop group Electric Bloom as they look back and tell the story of their band and friendship, starting with the day they all met in high school. Check out the trailer! Eric has years of experience as a TV showrunner and writer for series like “Bizaardvark,” “School of Rock,” “Drake & Josh,” and more. ❖ Dineen Pashoukos Wasylik (email Dineen) | Dika Lam (email Dika) | Jennifer Rabin Marchant (email Jennifer) | Alumni Directory.

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1995

Happy New Year! Dana Hill, JD ’05, recently moved back to the Northeast to join the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont in September 2025. After seven years as federal prosecutor in the Orlando area, Dana writes, “My family and I will miss the friends we made and experiences we had in Florida. But we are also excited to start this new chapter of our lives in the region our family calls home.”

In October, Greg Pedicin joined Untitled, a London-based agency specializing in talent management, brand partnerships, creative strategy consulting, and content creation, as a literary manager, after more than 23 years at Gersh (the fourth largest talent and literary agency in the world). Greg began his Hollywood career as a floater at Gersh before becoming a literary agent. Over the past two decades, he has built a career representing writers, directors, novelists, playwrights, producers, and multi-hyphenates across film and television.

In December, Beth Camesano was promoted to managing director at Barclays. She has been with Barclays as the global head of data and records risk since 2022; prior to that, she had multiple roles over 24 years at Deutsche Bank.

And for our feel-good story of this installment: Melissa Biren Singer and her husband, Scott ’94, have started volunteering weekly at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a nonprofit that breeds, trains, and matches guide dogs to people with vision loss to help them live more independent lives, “as a new ‘empty nester’ activity.”

Melissa adds, “All three of our wonderful dogs were born at this facility but were released at some point during their journey when they decided to become pampered pets instead of hard-working guide dogs. While we are so glad to be able to help them in some small way, this experience has been so enjoyable and rewarding for us as we get the opportunity to nurture these dogs and see them grow during their first eight weeks of life. It’s been a real treat, and something we look forward to every week!”

Keep those updates coming! ❖ Alison Torrillo French (email Alison) | Class website | Class Facebook page | Class Instagram page | Alumni Directory.

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1996

Katrina James has recently joined Lawyers For Children in New York City as deputy executive director and general counsel, representing and serving children in foster care.

According to a news release, “Katrina has nearly 30 years of leadership experience spanning the nonprofit, education, and legal sectors. Trained as a social worker, attorney, and nonprofit leader, she began her career as a caseworker at a foster care provider agency, where she developed a deep understanding of the challenges facing children in care.

“Most recently, Katrina served as managing director of Dallas County Promise at the Commit Partnership, leading large-scale initiatives to increase college access and completion. Earlier, as a senior director at the Harlem Children’s Zone, Katrina developed innovative programs to strengthen college readiness and career success for young people. Earlier in her career, she practiced law at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, focusing on government enforcement and white-collar investigations.

“Katrina’s connection to Lawyers For Children runs deep—she first worked with the organization in 2009, assisting with an amicus brief, and later served on LFC’s leadership council and board of directors. In her new role as deputy executive director and general counsel, Katrina will oversee internal operations, provide legal and compliance leadership, strengthen organizational systems and staff development, and support LFC’s long-term strategic vision.”

Katrina says, “Lawyers for Children has held a special place in my heart for more than 15 years. Over the past 40+ years, LFC has used its interdisciplinary model to ensure that more than 100,000 children have had a voice in their family court proceedings. I am proud and excited to join LFC’s leadership in advancing its mission of supporting our most vulnerable children.” ❖ Class of 1996 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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1997

Megan Lynam Overbay was recently featured in a Cornellians story: “When the craft food movement was exploding a decade and a half ago, Megan would appreciate the variety of new offerings as she walked down grocery store aisles. But when it came to peanut butter, she noticed, the options pretty much stopped at creamy and crunchy.

“Seeing an opportunity, Megan and her husband launched Big Spoon Roasters to give nut butter lovers an array of tasty, handcrafted, and sustainably produced options, free of preservatives and artificial flavorings. Using nut butters like peanut, almond, hazelnut, walnut, cashew, and pecan as a base, their products come in some 20 flavors including cardamom bun, bourbon pecan, lemon cookie, Thai curry, and chocolate sea salt. They’re priced around $11–$17 for a 13-ounce jar, depending on the nut base.”

Amy Blye Cohen shares, “Our daughter Naomi ’29 is a freshman this year majoring in pre-med. That makes her a fourth-generation Cornellian—great-grandma, two grandfathers, two parents, and now Naomi. Go Big Red!” ❖Erica Broennle Nelson (email Erica) | Sarah Deardorff Carter (email Sarah) | Alumni Directory.

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1998

I hope everyone had a lovely start to 2026. Please keep your news and notes coming! What is new in your life these days? ❖ Class of 1998 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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1999

John Hyland writes, “I am a history professor at Christopher Newport University in Virginia, and a proud alum of the Class of 1999. I’m writing to share the news about my new book, Persia’s Greek Campaigns: Kingship, War, and Spectacle on the Achaemenid Frontier, which just came out with Oxford University Press. The book is the first comprehensive study of the Persian imperial contexts for the famous Persian-Greek Wars, which are widely viewed as foundational events in world history but understood through a one-sided Greek perspective.” ❖ Class of 1999 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2000s

2000

Greetings! I hope this note finds you well. The deadline for my upcoming article in a craft magazine is nearing, so I’ve been hard at work. I will have also completed my third year as a learning table speaker at the Rust Belt Fibershed Symposium, called Close to Home Collaborations: A Textile Future Worth Making. My topic is on how choosing breed-specific yarns affects your finished garments. For more information on the mission of the Rust Belt Fibershed, visit this website.

Food marketer Jaclyn Kaplan Oyola is the founder of Aussie Select, which sells deli-style cured lamb sourced from Australia. Jaclyn’s goal was to bring the rich, savory flavor of lamb to market in a way that is accessible for a wide variety of people to enjoy. That sounds delicious! You can read the Cornellians story here.

Joey Bonifacio debuted his first documentary film on the topic of gender-affirming care at the Rehobeth Beach International Film Festival in November. Here is a brief synopsis. “A pediatrician-turned-filmmaker turns the camera on himself as he grapples with the emotional, ethical, and political fault lines of providing gender-affirming care to youth—just as a global wave of legislation and a landmark 2025 U.S. Supreme Court ruling threaten to silence it altogether.” You can watch the trailer here.

Now, Joey really took to heart our founding principle of “any person … any study.” After graduating from the College of Arts and Sciences, Joey went to medical school at the University of British Columbia. Since then, some of the other education he’s completed include a MPH from Harvard, a master’s degree in divinity at the University of Toronto, and most recently, an MFA in film. Joey is a staff pediatrician at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, ON. He is considered a foremost expert in gender-affirming care in Canada. Here’s a link to his bio.

Cornell alumni all over the world are hard at work. If you would like to share what’s going on in your neighborhood, drop me a line or submit an online news form. ❖ Denise Williams (email Denise) | Alumni Directory.

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2001

It’s hard to believe, but our 25th Reunion is right around the corner! We can’t wait to see everyone back on campus June 4–7. As the date approaches, I’m sure many of us are reflecting on how quickly the years have gone by—and on how much has changed, and how much hasn’t. We left Cornell with a mix of confidence and uncertainty, ready to take on the world beyond Ithaca. And yet, all these years later, the Cornell connection still feels as strong as ever.

As always, we’d love to hear from you for future editions of these notes. Big updates, small updates, professional or personal—everything is welcome. Sometimes it’s the simplest updates that resonate the most.

Back to Reunion: Lorraine Medeiros and Marisa Laks are in the midst of planning and could not be more excited. They have many surprises in store, including a custom-made souvenir for the Class of 2001. We don’t want to spoil all of the surprises, so you’re just going to have to stay tuned and meet on West Campus come June! The Class of 2001 will be staying at the Carl Becker House on West Campus. For many, this will be the first time seeing West Campus without the U-Halls … Bittersweet, but a step up in terms of comfort. Accommodations will include in-house dining—expect to see some old favorites like the Hot Truck and Dairy Bar as we relive our glory days!

Red Hot Hockey at Madison Square Garden was another fun chance to see Cornell alums at the end of last year. While it was a hard-fought loss for the Big Red, it was still a great game and an impressive turnout of Cornell alumni and hockey fans across generations. My family and I attended with Ari ’02 and Meredith Silverman Fontecchio ’02 and their three children. Patrick McDonald ’02 and Martine Combal came in from Washington, DC, and met up with Scott Fava. Katrina Dryer, Michael, MPA ’02, and Susan Mueller Hanson, ME ’02, Erica Sietsma, and Andrea Hoberman Martinez were also there with their families, to name just a few from our class.

On the other side of the country, Jeff Ciccone was spotted in Las Vegas with his family, taking in the Formula 1 race and all the sights that come with it. Jeff and his wife, Madeline, have their hands full at home. With three boys, ages 12 to 16, they’re busy juggling packed sports and activity schedules—keeping life exciting and on the move.

Libby Leist ’01 is now executive vice president of the ‘Today’ show and Lifestyle.

Libby Leist continues to build an impressive career in broadcast journalism. Over more than two decades at NBC News, she has produced major political events, Olympic coverage, and presidential town halls. After joining NBC News in 2001 as a desk assistant in the Washington bureau, she went on to become Andrew Mitchell’s State Department producer and has continued rising through the ranks. Libby is now executive vice president of the “Today” show and Lifestyle. Under her leadership, “Today” won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Morning Program in 2020. She lives in Connecticut.

Chris and Cory Belnick Kercher have been keeping busy. Chris is a partner at Quinn Emanuel and the founder of the firm’s data and analytics group. He’s been focused on leveraging AI tools, such as Anthropic’s Claude, to help colleagues uncover new issues, strategies, and tactics for arguing cases. Recently, Chris was quoted in Financial Times and Fortune discussing how AI can boost lawyers’ productivity and impact. Cory now serves as director of pediatrics at Atria Institute in New York. On the home front, Chris and Cory recently made the move from New York to Connecticut. “It’s been an adjustment as lifetime New Yorkers!” Chris joked.

After Cornell, Alejandro Varela earned a master’s in public health and worked in HIV and cancer-screening research at institutions including the New York Blood Center and Mount Sinai. He later shifted to writing full time, publishing short fiction in The Yale Review and Harper’s Magazine. His debut novel, The Town of Babylon (2022), was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction. He followed that with the short-story collection The People Who Report More Stress (2023) and the novel Middle Spoon (2025), continuing to build a reputation as a sharp, socially aware voice. You can learn more on his website!

After graduation, Aaron Allen returned to his family’s farm, Allenwaite Farms, becoming a seventh-generation farmer. His work focuses on dairy and crop production, with milk sold to Dairy Farmers of America and supplying the New York City market. Aaron remains connected to Cornell through service on the CALS Advisory Council, where he brings an agricultural perspective to the college’s strategic conversations. Most recently, Allenwaite Farms acquired Herrington Farms in Brunswick, NY.

Got news or memories to share? Email either of us, visit our website, join and participate in our Class of 2001 Classmates Facebook group, and follow our Class of 2001 Instagram (@cornell2001alums). ❖ James Gutow (email James) | Nicole Neroulias Gupte (email Nicole) | Alumni Directory.

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2002

Hello, Class of ’02! We hope this message finds you well. If any classmates are reading this, we hope you will take the time to write to us! Others from our time on the Hill would greatly enjoy learning what you’ve been up to since graduation. ❖ Class of 2002 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2003

I recently had lunch with Christopher Tin in Salt Lake City. It was the first time we had seen each other since 2003, so we had a lot of catching up to do. Chris reflected, “After over a decade in banking, both in New York and Hong Kong, I made the bold move to leave the corporate world and venture into the wild and much-faster-paced startup ecosystem. I’ve had the chance to work with companies like Uber and DraftKings, where the pace, creativity, and constant problem-solving have been a refreshing change from the more predictable banking life. I’ve especially loved being part of teams building things from scratch. Now I’m taking a breather, exploring new opportunities, and considering where I can make the next big impact. Who knows, maybe I’ll find the next unicorn, or at least a solid startup with decent snacks.”

After New York and Hong Kong, Chris moved to San Francisco, then to Los Angeles, and then to Salt Lake. He says, “I’m currently in Utah where the mountains are breathtaking, and the air is just thin enough to make you feel like you’re accomplishing something by simply walking to the mailbox. I’ve been soaking in the outdoors with skiing, climbing, biking, paddleboarding, and, of course, playing pickleball whenever I can.

I’m currently in Utah, where the air is just thin enough to make you feel like you’re accomplishing something by simply walking to the mailbox.

Christopher Tin ’03

“I’m currently overcoming some serious health challenges, and while it wasn’t exactly a walk in the park (literally, couldn’t walk in the park), it has been an eye-opening journey. It’s taught me the value of slowing down and really appreciating the people who make life worth living. These days, I’m all about savoring the little moments and not letting life pass by in a blur of deadlines and email chains. It makes you realize who’s important in your life.”

When asked about what he misses most about Cornell, Chris said, “RPU cuisine” and “the camaraderie we had during those cold, wintry days when we were all bundled up, freezing our way through the Ithaca tundra. Those shared experiences with unique and intelligent individuals are rare and unforgettable, and as life gets busier and more complicated, I realize just how special those days truly were.” Chris also shared that he was a contestant on “The Price is Right” a few years back: “You’ll have to watch and see if I won anything or not.” See this link for the episode! ❖ Candace Lee Chow, PhD ’14 (email Candace) | Jon Schoenberg, ME ’03, PhD ’11 (email Jon) | Alumni Directory.

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2004

David Rand, a professor of information science and marketing and management communications at Cornell, was recently featured in an episode of the University’s newest video podcast, Research Matters.

Launched in January, this podcast spotlights Cornell scholars whose research directly engages with real-world challenges, from climate change and public safety to mental health, food systems, and the future of technology. The series translates complex scholarship into casual conversations that can be understood by listeners of all backgrounds.

In his episode, David discusses two studies he led that conclusively showed that AI can actually sway what people think in meaningful ways. In fact, in some countries, 10% of participants in his study changed their minds about who they planned to vote for after a simple conversation with a chatbot.

This episode includes practical takeaways, a look into the future of AI in our daily lives, and a discussion about the implications (both good and bad) of his recent discoveries. You can watch the full episode here! ❖ Class of 2004 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2005

Daisy Torres-Baez currently works in higher education and is a doctoral candidate whose research is on faculty and staff support of undocumented graduate students. She recently served as co-editor of a book, Heart Work: The Handbook on the Surviving and Thriving of Cultural and Identity Centers in Higher Education, which was released in November 2025.

According to the publisher, “Heart Work offers community members—especially potential and current practitioners, faculty, and staff in higher education—an understanding of the recent environmental context of cultural and identity centers. As our society evolves, recognizing that identities are not monolithic and embracing intersectionality allows for a deeper understanding of oppression and lived experiences. This handbook aims to bridge the gap by continuing the research and practice of cultural and identity centers in higher education.”

Please keep your news coming. We love to hear from our classmates! ❖ Jessica Rosenthal Chod (email Jessica) | Hilary Johnson King (email Hilary) | Alumni Directory.

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2006

Happy spring, Class of ’06! To all classmates reading this, we hope you will take the time to write us! We’d love to know what you’ve been up to. ❖ Class of 2006 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2007

Hello, Class of 2007! Happy spring! It’s wild to think that we’re just over one year away from our 20th Reunion. Looking forward to sharing more stories from all of you as we get closer to reconnecting in Ithaca!

This past November, I got a chance to spend some time with Sara Tam and meet her son Channing while wandering around the Met Museum with my family. It’s always fun to hang out with friends from the Hill! Also, my family and I returned to one of our favorite annual pastimes: watching Cornell men’s hockey at Madison Square Garden, joined by Sam Schreiber ’08 and his son. Unfortunately, the game didn’t go our way this year, but it was still a really fun time. We even got a family photo with Touchdown! Added bonus, we got a chance to catch up with Omar Gonzalez-Pagan as well!

In January, classmate Don Thomas Deere became 2007’s newest published author. Duke University Press published his book The Invention of Order: On the Coloniality of Space. Don is an assistant professor in the philosophy department at Texas A&M University. In his book, Don retraces the colonial origins of spatial organization in the Americas and the Caribbean and its lasting impact on modern structures of knowledge, power, race, and gender, as well as understandings of global modernity. Please find acclaim for his book below.

Linda Martín Alcoff, author of Visible Identities had this to say: “A critically important book, The Invention of Order offers a spatial reading of the modern/colonial world system, revealing the constitutive relations between the categories of peoples and the organization and representation of space. With lively examples, Deere fills in the large gaps left by Foucault, Harvey, Bachelard, and other theorists of spatiality. The idea that a people control the meaning of their land had to be overcome for colonialist and capitalist dispossession, and this fight is far from over.”

From Kris Sealey, author of Creolizing the Nation: “The Invention of Order presents a novel analysis of modern colonial projects, adding to current scholarship on the temporal and spatial significance of colonial conquest. Don Thomas Deere’s treatment of how this spatiality gives rise to and shapes colonial frames of reason, subject-formation, and the body is vital for any study of both the singularity of modern forms of colonial violence as well as the articulation of the radical nature of decolonial alternatives.”

Looking forward to sharing more exciting stories with everyone! Have more updates 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

I hope everyone had a lovely start to 2026. Please keep your news and notes coming! What is new in your life these days? ❖ Class of 2008 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2009

Long drive golf champion Troy Mullins was recently featured in a Cornellians story: “When Troy headed out to study abroad in Beijing her senior year, she packed a set of used golf clubs—toting them halfway around the world on the off chance that she’d have time to use them.

“Having bought a bike in Beijing, she’d take solo 25-minute rides from campus to a driving range she’d found. ‘I’d have “me time” and go hit a bunch of balls,’ recalls Mullins. ‘I had no idea what I was doing, but nobody cared.’

“Eventually, Mullins not only improved her technique—she went on to a pro career in long drive golf, in which athletes compete to hit the ball the farthest. The first Black woman to win a world long drive tour competition, Mullins holds the record for the longest drive by an American female golfer, at 402 yards. Indeed, only five women in the world have ever hit a drive more than 400 yards in competition.” ❖ Class of 2009 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2010s

2010

Hi! I’m Grace Guichardo Watkins, your new 2010 class co-correspondent along with Jennifer Wholey Lehman. I’ve been away from our beloved Cayuga’s waters for some time and so, to feel closer to our Big Red community, I thought volunteering for the Class Notes section would be a great way to stay connected. The last time I visited Cornell was in 2018 for a recruiting trip, so I am very much looking forward to attending Cornell’s very first Volunteer Summit on October 14–16, 2026.

Since graduating from Cornell, close to 16 years ago, I have moved a total of eight times as I pursued different career opportunities and, more recently, personal relationships (I like to remind my husband I moved across the country for him). I currently call Michigan home and have survived two freezing winters. Although Michiganders talk a great deal about their tough winters, I got plenty of training at Cornell, enduring the brutal walks to and from prelims. Thank you, Ithaca!

In Michigan, I live with my husband—who is the founder/owner of an Ethiopian specialty coffee company (shout-out to A Pensive Man’s Coffee)—and my two children: Kenneth, 2.5 years old, and Ansah, 10 months old. I work for Disney remotely from Michigan, so I still travel back to L.A. for work and enjoy the impossibly sunny days and $20 smoothies, but nothing beats being back on the East Coast.

Shannon Edwards ’10 has used her connections and resources to establish a fundraiser in support of Jamaica after the devastating impacts of Hurricane Melissa on the island.

This Class Notes column, I’d like to shine a spotlight on Shannon Edwards and the incredible work she is doing to give back to her beloved birthplace: Jamaica. Shannon, senior counsel, legal operations at TPG Inc., has used her connections and resources to establish a fundraiser in support of Jamaica after the devastating impacts of Hurricane Melissa on the island.

The fundraising efforts are focused on rebuilding the Maroon Town Basic School, which is based in Maroon Town, a rural area where her grandmother and other relatives still live. Although much work and funds are needed to help rebuild broken infrastructure severely damaged by the storm, Shannon is working to get an important institution operational again. Kudos to Shannon for all her efforts and generous spirit!

As a reminder, we welcome all updates about your life. Feel free to share the wonderful things you are doing in your community and the simple joys of everyday life. Cheers to April showers and May flowers!

We are genuinely excited to share your news! You’ll hear from Jennifer in our next column. ❖ Grace Guichardo Watkins (email Grace) | Jennifer Wholey Lehman (email Jennifer) | Alumni Directory.

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2011

Happy spring, Class of ’11! To all classmates reading this, we hope you will take the time to write us! We’d love to know what you’ve been up to. ❖ Class of 2011 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2012

Tony Chen, ME ’12, has dedicated himself to connecting Cornellians around the world and spotlighting the achievements of alumni and the University. Tony has his own tech company, but his passion is promoting Cornell and Cornellians globally. He regularly shares out Cornell news, connects alumni with each other, and even organizes and hosts his own events.

To follow along with Tony and join in on the fun, find him on LinkedIn or Facebook. He’s also on TikTok and Instagram; for both, his handle is @risleyite in honor of his undergrad residence. You can read more about Tony here! ❖ Peggy Ramin (email Peggy) | Alumni Directory.

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2013

I hope everyone had a lovely start to 2025. Please keep your news and notes coming! What is new in your life these days? ❖ Class of 2013 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2014

Hello, Class of 2014! In November 2025, two of our classmates were featured in articles in Cornellians. Monique Hall is a writer and producer for children’s television including screenwriting credits on popular shows like “Sesame Street,” “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” “Bubble Guppies,” and “Butterbean’s Café.”

In 2023, Monique won an Emmy alongside her “Sesame Street” colleagues in the category of “outstanding writing for a preschool or children’s live action program.” At Cornell, Monique majored in human development with dual minors in creative writing and film. She later earned a master’s in education from Harvard, where she specialized in educational media. You can read more about Monique’s career in the full article here.

Alvaro Alvarez was featured in the article “Using Found Objects, California Artist Turns Trash to Treasure.” Alvaro’s latest project, AbandonmenTissues, displayed in San Diego, CA, in fall 2025, consisted of 25 sculptural works that included discarded items made of metal, plastic, styrofoam, and cardboard. The project aims to draw attention to debris littered from semi trucks around San Ysidro, CA, near the border with Mexico. Prior to this recent project, Alvaro lived in NYC and was involved in the design and construction of the residential tower at 15 Hudson Yards.

Please let me know if you or any of your 2014 friends might have stories to share. ❖ Samantha Lapehn Young (email Samantha) | Alumni Directory.

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2015–17

We don’t have any news from these classes to report this round—but we hope that will change in the future! What have you been up to these days? What are you doing for work or fun? What kind of impact did your time at Cornell have on your life? If you have a moment, please send an email to us. ❖ Classes of 2015–17 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2018

Marc Alessi, MS ’20, has been recognized as a 2025 Science Defender by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), a national nonprofit, for his work co-organizing the Weather & Climate Livestream in May of last year.

According to the UCS news release, “Marc can’t recall a time when he wasn’t interested in weather and climate. ‘I knew I wanted to go to Cornell to be in their atmospheric science program since I was in middle school,’ he says. Several named storms and a high school weather camp later, he realized that dream, earning his bachelor’s and master’s in atmospheric sciences at Cornell University and later earning his PhD working on climate models at Colorado State University.” ❖ Class of 2018 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2019

In September 2025, Spencer, BS ’18, and Kristen Ferguson Kopko ’20 embarked on a new venture in Ithaca—driven by their deep appreciation for the local community and their shared experiences at Cornell—when they took over ownership of the Triphammer Marketplace.

A beloved local shopping destination that has been a staple of the Ithaca community, it was previously owned by the Thaler family for several decades. With this new chapter, Spencer and Kristen aim to honor the legacy of the mall while introducing fresh ideas and offerings that reflect the evolving needs of the community.

According to an article in the Ithaca Voice, “Spencer is an Ithaca native, and Kristen is originally from southern Virginia. The two met at Cornell, when Spencer was on the men’s soccer team and Kristen was on the women’s field hockey team. Spencer’s day job is with a large real estate developer in New Jersey, though the acquisition of the Triphammer Marketplace is an outside endeavor with no involvement from that company.

“‘We are incredibly honored to carry on the work and legacy of the Thaler family and to be entrusted with a place that means so much to so many,’ Spencer said. ‘I know what this property means to Ithaca and to my family personally. We’re truly pouring our heart into it. I don’t know if there’s a property that means more to Ithaca than this, and we’re intimately aware of that.’” ❖ Class of 2019 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2020s

2020

“I fell in love with Ithaca over the four years that I was at Cornell. I still find new things to love about it, and it’s been almost nine, ten years? I’m just really excited about the town and about the opportunity to invest back in it,” Kristen Ferguson Kopko said in a recent Ithaca Voice article.

In September 2025, Kristen and her husband, Spencer ’19, BA ’18, took over ownership of the Triphammer Marketplace! A beloved local shopping destination that has been a staple of the Ithaca community, it was previously owned by the Thaler family for several decades. With this new chapter, Spencer and Kristen aim to honor the legacy of the mall while introducing fresh ideas and offerings that reflect the evolving needs of the community.

According the article, “Spencer is an Ithaca native, and Kristen is originally from southern Virginia. The two met at Cornell, when Spencer was on the men’s soccer team and Kristen was on the women’s field hockey team. Spencer’s day job is with a large real estate developer in New Jersey, though the acquisition of the Triphammer Marketplace is an outside endeavor with no involvement from that company.” ❖ Class of 2020 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2021–25

We don’t have any news from these classes to report this round—but we hope that will change in the future! What have you been up to these days? What are you doing for work or fun? What kind of impact did your time at Cornell have on your life? If you have a moment, please send an email to us. ❖ Classes of 2021–25 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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Grad

Agriculture and Life Sciences

Nathan Roberts, PhD ’10, serves as professor and dean of academic programs at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO. The college provides a tuition-free education “to provide the advantages of a Christian education for youth of both sexes, especially those found worthy, but who are without sufficient means to procure such training.”

Karianne Kapfer, MS ’24, recently wrote for Cornellians about her experiences in academia and the importance of disability fairness in the field. In the essay, titled “Why I’ve Become a Champion for Disability Equity in Academia,” Karianne explains the various ways she is advocating, including serving on the advisory council for the Lab Inclusion for Everyone (LIFE) Project, which aims to make the Cornell Lab of Ornithology more inclusive for neurodivergent and/or disabled individuals. She has helped develop a neurodiversity awareness training module for both people leaders and the general University community, helped get the walkway from the bus stop to the visitors’ center paved, and provided feedback on the newly renovated center’s accessibility. “One might assume the worst part of being disabled is the pain so severe that the weight of a T-shirt on your body is unbearable,” writes Karianne. “Yet that is far from the worst part; the most difficult aspect is the attitude of others. Like many other disabled students, I have faced significant adversity in the academic environment.”

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Architecture, Art, and Planning

Mary Jacobs White, MFA ’70, is enjoying traveling and living in Grass Valley, CA. Sadly, she shares that she lost her husband, Bill, in 2021. About her life, Mary writes, “I did a bunch of stage work … Wasn’t that the whole point of the MFA program? Then I segued into investigations and probation work, met Bill, and we traveled all over the world. I’m very grateful for the MFA program and the expertise of the instructors. I repeatedly say that I am glad I went to Cornell. I realized during my time there that the snides and sneers directed at me during my teens was just so much schmutz.”

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Arts and Sciences

Marjorie Maddox Hafer, MFA ’89, is the host of “Poetry Moment” for WPSU-FM, the assistant editor of Presence: A Journal of Catholic Poetry, and a professor emerita at Commonwealth University, Lock Haven. Marjorie has published 17 collections of poetry including Hover Here (with a blurb from her Cornell mentor Robert Morgan), Seeing Things, and Small Earthly Space—as well as a story collection, five children’s books, and the anthologies Common Wealth: Contemporary Poets on Pennsylvania and Keystone Poetry. Marjorie is the great-grandniece of Branch Rickey, the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers who signed Jackie Robinson to Major League Baseball. Her young adult biography on him, A Man Named Branch: The True Story of Baseball’s Great Experiment, is available from Sunbury Press.

Historian Gregory Dreicer, PhD ’93, has published a new book based on his dissertation, American Bridge, which explores the reinvention of construction. “By challenging the big narratives that continue to dominate thinking about invention, design, and history, my book is intended to alter the field,” writes Gregory, who credits Cornell for making his career, research, and book possible.

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Business

Michael Rakouskas, MPA ’72, has moved into a continuing care retirement community with his wife, Elaine. In 2026 they have plans to cruise the Caribbean and visit Switzerland for the first time, a bucket-list destination for them. “We had a big year in 2025: celebrated graduations for all of our four grandchildren. One grandchild graduated from middle school to attend high school. Another two graduated high school, then went on to be freshmen in college, one at Florida Atlantic University and the other at North Carolina State. A fourth graduated from the University of Miami to take a job in research at a children’s hospital in Columbus, OH, in preparation for a possible PhD. It was an exciting year for Elaine and me!”

Eileen Higgins, MBA ’89, won the closely watched runoff race for mayor of Miami in December 2025. This makes Eileen Miami’s first female mayor, the first Democrat elected to the post in 28 years, and the first non-Hispanic mayor since the 1990s. She was previously the county commissioner. Eileen’s campaign focused on alleviating affordability issues through more efficient government, cutting the red tape hindering small businesses and homeowners, promoting climate resilience, and fostering safe neighborhoods. “Miami chose a new direction,” Higgins said in her victory speech. “You chose competence over chaos, results over excuses, and a city government that finally works for you.”

Calvin Stovall Jr., MPS ’93, wrote a book, Hidden Hospitality: Untold Stories of Black Hotel, Motel, and Resort Owners from the Pioneer Days to the Civil Rights Era, to introduce readers to the histories of Black entrepreneurs and hoteliers, and uncover this aspect of Black history that is often not learned about in American history. Calvin wrote about his book and the importance of learning about Black hoteliers for Cornellians, where he explains that his research for the book started during his studies as a student on the Hill. “African-American contributions to the world of hospitality are too little known, because they have been too little documented,” Calvin writes in the article.

Joy Lin, MMH ’10, is a Taiwanese American author and illustrator who goes by the pen name Regina Linke. She is the creator of the beloved comic and book The Oxherd Boy and is known for using playful storytelling and beautiful illustrations, inspired by traditional Chinese philosophy, to introduce young readers to important values like kindness, mindfulness, and compassion. Joy has written a new children’s book, Little Helper, that encourages readers of all ages to use inventive problem-solving strategies and lend a helping hand wherever they can. In 2025 her book Big Enough won the New England Book Award and was named one of the best books of the year by Kirkus Reviews.

Andres Lankenau Martinez, MBA ’15, was awarded the distinction of Exemplary Citizen by Selider, Mexico’s leadership association. Andres runs a nonprofit that has supported more than 800 students and their families by helping them with their education and giving them the ability to stay engaged in sports and away from harmful influences and vulnerable environments. Andres also received a state award from the governor a decade ago.

Joseph Farrell III, MBA ’16, is the new CEO of Resolve Marine, a family-founded global marine emergency response firm that addresses collisions, fires, oil spills, and other problems that are often in high-risk, unpredictable conditions. Under Joseph’s leadership, the company is evolving from a traditional salvage firm into a modern, globally recognized leader in marine emergency response. “We’re good at solving problems that are unexpected by clients,” says Joseph. “But because these are problems that are too infrequent for people to even think it’s going to happen, it’s hard to compare quality against other providers. The challenge is to show people that you’re the best.”

Julia Eklund Littauer, MBA ’20, and Alexander Littauer, MBA ’20, were recently featured in a Cornellians story about their business Sovi, which offers zero-proof versions of classic wines like a reserve red and a sparkling rosé, as well as more whimsical pours, such as its “Wild Child” sparkling orange. “Non-alcoholic wine means being able to socialize and drink wine, but not have the effects of alcohol,” says Julia, who was president of the Johnson School’s wine club and, along with her husband, participated in Cuvée, Cornell’s wine education and tasting group. “That was a refreshing idea that appealed to both of us.” Their non-alcoholic drinks have been highly reviewed by news outlets including Cosmopolitan, Forbes, Tasting Table, and the New York Times.

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Graduate School

Anna Evtushenko, PhD ’24, works as a computer science lecturer at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is also a writer-director of film and theater who has produced four short films. “My main achievement,” she says, “is directing a 65-minute play, Mine, at Cornell in the Performing and Media Arts department in 2023. This is a family drama that also deals with displacement, the nature of authorship, and uncertainty about the future and past. It was well-received when it was performed live.” The recording is now available in a film version. “My main hope is to reach people who may appreciate the production—those who’ve left home due to politics, or people who like theater. It is also decidedly anti-war in Ukraine.”

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Human Ecology

Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, PhD ’73, is the Unidel H. Rodney Sharp Chair and Professor in the School of Education at the University of Delaware, where she has worked for more than 50 years. Roberta has written hundreds of articles about how young children learn their native language, about their spatial world, and more. She just published her 17th book, Einstein Never Used Flash Cards!, which shows parents how they can help their child succeed while reducing the pressures they all face. Roberta and her co-author, both award-winning early childhood scientists, offer this message: Rather than investing in workbooks and educational apps and toys, parents need to recognize that the best way to boost their children’s brainpower and interpersonal skills is through playful learning. “We all need a little more fun in our lives. Jump into the activities and insights in Einstein to realize your full potential as a playful parent with flourishing children,” writes Roberta. “I could not have done this without the superb training I received in human development and psychology at Cornell!”

Peter Banko, MHA ’92, has written a new book, The Necessary Goodbye: How Great Leaders Fire with Clarity, Confidence, and Compassion, which is a practical and candid guide for new and aspiring leaders and a long-overdue resource in leadership education. “This book is for millions of Americans who aim to lead, whether business school students, first-time managers, or rising executives. Facing an underperforming employee is not a matter of if but when. Within five years, every leader will confront this challenge, and yet few are prepared for it. This book fills that gap with direct, experience-based wisdom,” writes Peter. He lives in Western Massachusetts and is a recognized speaker on leadership, organizational transformation, and values-driven decision making. His book is available for preorder and will be released in bookstores and online on May 12, 2026.

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Industrial and Labor Relations

Douglas McCabe, PhD ’77, has retired as professor emeritus of management from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in Washington, DC, after 45 years of dedicated teaching, research, and service in the areas of labor-management relations, strategic human resource management, negotiations, mediation, and arbitration. Doug and his wife, Caroline, spend their time at their winter home in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and at their summer home in Rehoboth Beach, DE, combined with extensive international travel. They also adopt golden retrievers. “Getting my PhD in ILR in 1977 laid the foundation for a successful academic, professorial, and professional career in D.C.,” writes Doug.

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Group

University Chorus & Glee Club

Happy New Year! We have some exciting updates from a few Chorus alums in this column.

In London, Dana Day ’00 joined the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, a world-leading professional membership organization that trains, develops, and supports more than 150,000 chartered accountants worldwide, as chief learning officer.

Dana’s classmate Allison Bailey Blais ’00 also had a major transition in her professional life. Twenty-one years after joining the effort to remember and rebuild at the World Trade Center site—which included roles as executive vice president and chief strategy and operations officer at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City and co-authorship of the National Geographic book A Place of Remembrance—she has become the president and CEO of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, CT.

Sue den Outer ’94 was excited to share that she played with the Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra.

Sue den Outer ’94 was excited to share that she played with the Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Israel “Buzz” Herman, on November 23. In fact, she was the piano soloist for Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 58.

The following day, Danielle Benaviv-Meskin ’96 posted on social media that her daughter Sophie, an Irish step dancer, placed 13th in all of New England in the Oireachtas, a prestigious annual championship for competitive Irish dance that serves as a qualifier for the World Championships. Congrats to Sophie and her team, which placed in the top 5!

Finally, for After Eight alums: don’t forget to register for Reunion to celebrate 35 years for A8 and 50 (!!) for the original Nothing But Treble subset of the Chorus!

Ok, men of the Glee Club: it’s time for you to catch up and share some updates! ❖ Alison Torrillo French ’95 (email Alison) | Alumni Directory.

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Top image: Photo by Jason Koski / Cornell University

Published February 27, 2026