Class Notes

September / October 2022

Columns compiled by your class correspondents

1940s

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Classes of the 1940s

1946

I connected with Joan Waite Martens! She is still in her New York City apartment and has help with daily chores. It was wonderful to talk with her after many months. We were longtime roomies and often speak of our Cornell days.

Call and connect with friends. It really makes your day. ❖ Dorothy Taylor Prey (email Dorothy), 1 Baldwin Ave., #501, San Mateo, CA 94401; tel., (650) 342-1196. Class website. Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1947

Who from the Class of 1947 attended Reunion in June? The answer: class president Peter Schwarz, BEE ’46, and me, treasurer Israel “Jay” Milner. We who were able to attend Reunion proudly represented our wonderful Class of 1947. Pete, his alumna daughter, Mary ’81, MAT ’95, her husband, Brian, and grandson Joseph Vinegrad ’15 warmly welcomed me and wife Edith, son Joseph ’89, and son-in-law Barry. At our delightful meals together, and at times including other alums, we shared our current news and experiences as well as reminiscences of the “old days.”

Packed into weather-perfect days were nostalgic campus and off-campus activities including: visiting the current Electrical Engineering college, attending faculty lectures, visiting Beebe Lake, joining a piano-led Cornell sing-along, and a trip back to beautiful Buttermilk Falls (P.S., no swimming).

Some of us attended the traditional tent party (mildly lubricated by some beer) that was held on the Arts Quad Friday evening with pop music and dancing by the many most-friendly old and young “Re-uners” and undergrads. As we were leaving, I was presented with a vintage 1947 wall calendar by a gracious younger alumna who somehow had kept it all these years. What a souvenir!

On Saturday, Cornell alumnus Bill Nye ’77 the “Science Guy” entertained us on a wide range of pleasant, informative, and current topics. Later, Cornelliana Night took place at a packed Schoellkopf Stadium. By means of amplified sound and a large video screen, we enjoyed musical and comical entertainment offered by undergrad student groups. Also, each of the Reunion classes got a shout-out, with cheers and whistles starting with the newest returning class, 2017. When it came to our Class of 1947, we waved and yelled back to the crowd, who in unison turned toward our upper box location with ear-to-ear smiles and deafening roars.

Throughout the entire Reunion, we were warmly greeted by Cornell staff, volunteers, young alumni, and campus visitors alike, who saw us and recognized our identifying class badges. Speaking for Pete and myself, we are left with a beautiful memory of Cornell Reunion. ❖ Class of 1947 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1948

In my last column, I wrote that the typical family in our generation had a working husband and a wife at home running the household and raising the children—a conclusion I came to because my wife’s sorority sisters did not have paid employment and only one of the many couples of our age that we met over the years included a working wife. However, I have heard a differing view from classmate Barbara Cole Feiden: “I’m writing to disagree (though politely and pleasantly) with our class correspondent’s finding that most of the women members of the Class of ’48 didn’t work. I did—and most of my friends and colleagues did. I, in fact, was also in the Canadian Army for two years. Many went back to work when our children started school (or earlier) and were employed as social workers, teachers, lawyers, writers, and more. I believe that the Greatest Generation set a good example for our children and those who followed us.”

Richard Landsman reports, “At 96 years old, I still live in my own home. My time is filled with reading books, playing games online, and visits from daughter Betsy ’76, nieces Jennifer Landsman Chobor ’85 and Deborah Landsman Parker ’84, and son Sam. I enjoy cooking and baking apple pie. I date Marlene Medjuck Green ’55, who lives nearby. Life is quiet but enjoyable. I would love to hear from my Cornell friends and classmates.”

Three family members who graduated from Cornell and dating a nearby Cornellian! For me, I have three children: one with a Cornell bachelor’s degree and PhD from the University of Colorado and another with a PhD from Northwestern. My career took me all over: Pennsylvania, Illinois, Florida, California, Massachusetts. And my son resisted going to Cornell, not wanting to be accepted as a legacy rather than earning his own way. But he was admitted on his own, loved it when he got there, and has maintained ties mostly through his fraternity ever since.

At my age of 99, I can also say companionship is very important, and, being a widower for a dozen years from the Cornellian I married, I have female companionship with a 97-year-old neighbor who graduated from Northwestern. I have lived in the house I built here on Hilton Head Island, SC, for 35 years and expect my daughter to move in at some point. In a previous issue I described my pleasure in watching the wildlife—birds, squirrels, rabbits, and deer—visit my property as a welcome break from the substantial reading I, like Richard, also do. ❖ Ray Tuttle (email Ray), 65 Oyster Reef Dr., Hilton Head Island, SC 29926. Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1949

Greetings, classmates! How great to get back in touch with you all. Please send me all your news! Address it to Cornellians, 312 College Ave. Suite B, Ithaca, NY 14850 or via email to Alexandra Bond ’12. We shall celebrate hearing from each and every one of you!

My computer finally went to take a nap, so my daughter and I bought a new and fancier one.

We moved house from “in town” in our small town of Wellsboro, PA, to just beyond the city limits in the countryside. Yes, it is very lovely country, but now we carry our garbage to a central location, our water comes from our well, and when it snows, a delightful boy will come and clear our acre-long driveway! No, I am not seriously complaining!

Classmates, we should all enjoy hearing about your daily life these days. Has much changed recently? My morning generally begins with driving my daughter’s three children to their schools. That’s usually fun. Later in the day I do retrieve them! They are 13, 14, and a very tall 16 years old! Everyone seems to be passing me in the height department these days. My afternoons are generally made interesting by domestic travel to the grocery store and by the school pick-up trips.

We had a great trip to Puerto Rico last summer for the wedding of my granddaughter. So far, no one in the family is getting married this summer.

We visited the Florida west coast for ten days in May. I had wanted to bring our dog and cat with us, but after the 20-hour drive down (broken up by a night in a hotel) I realized that they probably would not have enjoyed the trip very much.

Now, classmates, it is definitely your turn! Write! What have you all been doing? What is your day like? Please send me your news! ❖ Dorothy Mulhoffer Solow (email Dorothy), 484 Fischler St. Ext., Wellsboro, PA 16901. Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

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Classes of the 1950s

1950

Class Reunion: On June 9–12, 2022, seven indefatigable classmates pulled off an official 70th Class of the Century Reunion. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a virtual Zoom Reunion had been held in June 2020, “attended” by a then-record 32 classmates. Subsequently, class officers decided that we should have an official face-to-face Reunion.

Classmates in attendance were president James Brandt and Gordon Dibble (Engineering); Dick Silver, MD ’53 (Arts & Sciences); treasurer Ben Williams, Al Mitchell, and John Mellor, PhD ’54 (Agriculture); and Walt Spalding (Industrial and Labor Relations). Guests included Jim Brandt’s son Doug, Ben Williams’s companion Marlene, and the wives of Mellor, Dibble, and Spalding. All had accommodations at Cornell’s four-star Statler Hotel.

Reunion activities: Thursday: Reception and welcome by President Martha Pollack and an elegant dinner with the classes of ’47 and ’52, followed by the typical Savage Club Show. Friday: Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving in Anabel Taylor Chapel; a conversation with President Pollack and three students reporting on their Cornell experiences; and an elegant dinner followed by the Centennial Concert in Bailey Hall featuring the Glee Club and Chorus, with former Chorus members recognized in celebration of the group’s 100th anniversary. Saturday: “Science Guy” Bill Nye ’77 gave a clever, funny lecture in Schoellkopf Stadium (Bill was attending his 45th Reunion); Corey Earle ’07 and Evan Earle ’02, MS ’14, gave a presentation on Cornell’s history; the Olin Lecture by world-renowned architect Diébédo Francis Kéré; the annual Reunion banquet; and the eclectic Cornelliana Night held in Schoellkopf.

Short note from John “Jack” Rose, MD ’54 (Lancaster, PA), class fund representative: “Looking back, it’s hard to recall and talk about years ago. Lil (McLellan) ’54 and I retired 29 years ago, Lil from her catering business and I from my urology practice, and we never looked back. Then for 29 years we traveled to different continents, and for 20 years from May to October we lived at our Western Quebec cottage.”

From Sonia Pressman Fuentes: “I’m one of three women featured in The Great Stewardess Rebellion: How Women Launched a Workplace Rebellion at 30,000 Feet, by Nell McShane Wulfhart (published April 19, 2022, Penguin Random House). It is the story of American stewardesses’ fight for equality. I drafted the opinion for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 1968, finding that American Airlines terminated or grounded stewardesses on grounds of marriage or reaching the age of 32 or 35, thereby violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”

I’ve been to every U.S. state, all the provinces of Canada, half of the states of Mexico, and 33 foreign countries on five continents.
Paul Joslin ’50

In my 95th year and looking back, I’m thankful that in a nebulous way Cornell contributed to the satisfaction of my childhood love of travel—I’ve been to every U.S. state, all the provinces of Canada, half of the states of Mexico, and 33 foreign countries on five continents. While experiencing those wonderful and instructive travels I often wondered what it would be like to have lived in one of those other countries and often pondered this question, which I now pose for you.

Suppose that, for some reason, you had to leave the U.S. to live in another country; what country would you choose? Make a list and prioritize it. What would your top countries have in common? They might have the highest standards of living in health, longevity, education, income, housing, recreational opportunities, and perceived happiness.

Canada would be high on my list. Geographically it is the second-largest country on earth and has huge forest, mineral, and freshwater resources—and has all the socio/economic/political advantages of the other desirable countries. Also, global warming will open more of its land for food production. Australia would be a good second choice for the immediate future, but long term it cannot continue to live almost exclusively on exports of its many natural resources. Also, global warming will expand its current huge desert and reduce its arable farmland.

Think about it and send me your thoughts and comments—and include some personal news. ❖ Paul Joslin (email Paul), 13731 Hickman Rd., #4207, Urbandale, IA 50323; tel., (515) 278-0960. Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1951

Paul Jones writes, “I continue to oppose the California High Speed Rail. I hope to ride the Spanish high-speed rail from Madrid to Barcelona, a route for which I led the first feasibility study.” Paul adds that he gets great satisfaction from watching his grandchildren develop their families and careers.

Douglas Young, BA ’54, has been volunteering, for 15 years now, for a local hospital.

Shelley Epstein Akabas let us know that she’s been learning to manage life in a wheelchair, without much personal mobility. She’s been listening to books through Audible, watching lots of TV shows on her computer, and trying to get in the pool for regular therapy. Her greatest satisfaction comes from her family, which includes nine adult grandchildren—four married—and seven great-grandchildren so far.

Paul Reszel never imagined that he’d reach the age of 92, noting, “My father died at 62.” Paul assists at St. Vincent’s Catholic Church and reports that he has 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild—“all with happenings.” He adds, “I am happy in my neighborhood and community of Fort Wayne, IN, with local availability of colleges, symphonic orchestra, ballet, shopping, church, sports, and family.”

Ronald Arky, MD ’55, is still working as a teacher, advisor, coach, and mentor of Harvard Medical School students. “I attend local, regional, national, and international meetings and conferences via Zoom. I’ve also been teaching medical students who are at home, and meeting their families via Zoom.” Ronald notes that he’s proud of the accomplishments of the many students he’s been in contact with these past 60 years. ❖ Class of 1951 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1952

Thank you to every single one of you who responded with a news form. I have 21 of them. Not bad for nonagenarians! In addition, I am emailing several of those who attended our 70th Reunion for their reflections on the whole thing, 70 years later. I would have emailed all record-breaking 25 or 26 of them—but come on. If you were at Reunion and did not get my email, feel free to chime in.

A word on Reunion. We broke attendance records. New class officers are Tom Cashel, LLB ’56, president; Sid Goldstein, MD ’56, vice president; Cappy Heyl Innes, membership chair; Sue Youker Schlaepfer, treasurer; Bibbi Antrim Hartshorn will continue as class historian; and I will continue as class correspondent—but only if you send me news. (No Reunion chairs needed for the 75th.) That list may not be complete. But, on to the news.

The news form’s first question, “What’s something you’re doing now that you never imagined?” brought a variety of answers. Marion Lotz Rutan (Haines City, FL) wrote that she is now legally blind, but still enjoys cooking and baking. “Enjoying our community swimming pool year-round in the warm Florida weather. Warren and I are active members of the friendly and warm parish of St. Matthew Church in Winter Haven.” Her most satisfaction these days comes from “talking books (by mail) from the Library of Congress.”

Eli Manchester (Westwood, MA) writes, “Anne and I now are full time at Fox Hill Village, a wonderful retirement community. We sold our house in Cohasset last May. We were in Cohasset, on the water, for 63 years. We missed Reunion, as our granddaughter graduated from Dartmouth that same weekend. Fox Hill is just wonderful. It will keep you going with activities from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. I had a nice little talk this past weekend with Don Follett and Bob Conti, MS ’54. There are not many of my Engineering college classmates left.”

I am still working as an actor on TV and the Internet, in commercials, music videos, and political satires.
Richard Bergman ’52, MA ’54

Ted, MS ’53, and Trudy Krueger Winsberg are in Boynton Beach, FL. Ted writes that he never imagined “watching someone else do the heavy work around the farm and taking care of Trudy.” They are “encouraging and enabling local gardening projects, working on League of Women Voters, NOW, NAACP, and an ACLU project.” Family happenings: “Five grandchildren are getting married and settling down.” He finds the greatest satisfaction in “daily two-mile walks with early morning walkers at nearby Green Cay Wetlands.” Ted closes with: “We are sorry we were not be able to attend Reunion.”

Caroline “Becky” Booth Cipperly writes that house and garden keep her busy. She has six children, 15 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren so far. What brings Becky the most satisfaction these days? “Family.” Richard Bergman, MA ’54 (New York, NY) writes, “I am still working as an actor on TV and the Internet, in commercials, music videos, and political satires.”

Walter Harrison is still in Stanford, CA. Gerald Read (Rochester, NY) writes that he never imagined helping care for his wife, Shirley, who has Alzheimer’s. “We are living in an apartment in Rochester. We both retired from teaching in Plattsburgh City School District, Shirley in elementary and I in vocational agriculture. Ours is a blended family. We have six children, 14 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.” Gerald gets most satisfaction from visits with family members. No new hobbies, but, he says, “We traveled for many years after retirement, having visited all 50 states and 24 other countries.”

Trudy Serby Gildea (Columbus, MS) never imagined “being taken care of.” In retirement, she is living in her house and watching “Andy Griffith” reruns. Her children visit her often. She gets the most satisfaction from singing—“folk songs and church songs, mostly.” Trudy’s new hobby is “walks in the neighborhood.”

David Matson (Ft. Wayne, IN) never imagined “living in an assisted living facility.” His son Tom lives in Portland, OR, and daughter Sarah lives in Seattle, WA. His most satisfaction these days is “getting mail.” No new hobbies: “I gave my stamp collection to my son.” Ann Coffeen Turner (Keene, NH) never imagined “seeing 1984 as a threat.” She is part-time tutoring at home. Her grandchildren are in college. What gives her most satisfaction these days is “tutoring dyslexics and selling (at reasonable cost) my teaching materials to other dyslexia tutors.” For more info, you can view this website. Any new hobbies recently? “No, still reading and playing piano. I miss singing, but I know better than to do it.”

I wish I could give you some news on a printed magazine or paid subscriptions. As soon as something is known, it will be sent out. Meanwhile, you can certainly email me here and it will appear online. I have news for the next issue and that is great. ❖ Joan Boffa Gaul (email Joan). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1953

Ever wonder why there was no ice hockey team at Cornell when we were there—despite plenty of frigid weather? Ed Gibson explains, “I was on the 1949 New England Championship hockey team at Exeter. While there, I received a letter from Cornell hockey coach Bud Boeringer welcoming me to the Cornell team. But when winter came around in our freshman year, alas! The hockey team, established at Cornell in 1900, was cancelled! The reason: natural ice on Beebe Lake had become too unreliable. There went my dream.

“So my Chi Psi roommate from Minnesota, Jerry Potter, and I organized a Cornell club league. We recruited 25 enthusiasts to put up the boards needed to play. It looked great—until the ice melted! Jerry and I were left by ourselves to recover the heavy boards from the frigid water … from a canoe! That was the low point in Cornell hockey history! We both ended up playing industrial league hockey in Syracuse, but for three years we proceeded to lobby the trustees to build an indoor rink. In 1957, the modern era began. Walter Carpenter 1910, president of the DuPont Co., donated $500,000 to build an artificial ice rink that is named after James Lynah 1905, Cornell’s first Director of Athletics. Did I miss out? Probably for a few years; but from 1960 on I doubt that I would have even made the team. It has a glorious record that incudes 24 Ivy League championships, 29 All-Americans, and 53 Cornellians who have played in the NHL.”

Following the death of her husband, Gordon, in 2021, Janet Kilby Lankton moved from Massachusetts, where she lived for many years, to Bonita Springs, FL, to be near daughter Susan. Janet lost her vision some years ago, so Susan has sent us the news that she is living in a retirement community where she has an aide to help her. “I love the hot weather year-round, which I never thought I would,” says Janet. “I especially enjoy singing and going for walks in the park.” Daughters Karen Lankton-Schmidt ’83 and Lauren Lankton Weisshaar ’87 live in other states.

Barbara Querze Weinreich, MEd ’54, has lived in Orlando for 62 years and recently took on a new responsibility. “I could never imagine that at age 90 I would be chosen to serve on the board of directors of the newly established merger of the Jewish Federation of Orlando and the Jewish Community Center,” she says. The groups share a campus that includes a Holocaust Center, Jewish Community Center, academy, and preschool; they also sponsor a program, called RAISE, that serves disabled adults. Barbara has served as a job coach in the RAISE program, preparing potential employees to find jobs in the general community.

I could never imagine that at age 90 I would be chosen to serve on the board of directors of the merger of the Jewish Federation of Orlando and the Jewish Community Center.
Barbara Querze Weinreich ’53, MEd ’54

Barbara also participates in two book clubs and still manages to have fun playing Mahjong and to spend time with her ten grandchildren when they visit! She’s looking forward to becoming a great-grandmother for the first time and notes that her family brings her the most satisfaction. Her family includes a few other Cornell graduates: son Joshua Weinreich ’82 and his wife, Roberta (Falloon) ’82; daughter Ilene Weinreich ’89; and granddaughter Dara Canchester ’18. When Barbara’s husband, Robert ’52, died 20 years ago, the family established a scholarship in his memory to celebrate the affection he had for Cornell. One of her treasured memories is of the McGraw Tower bells chiming the haunting melody of the Kol Nidre at sunset on Yom Kippur.

Herb Neuman was widowed several years ago when his life partner, Stephanie, passed away. “We were lucky to have 66 years of marriage plus five years of courtship,” he observes. “Now I enjoy watching our grandchildren progress with their careers.” Herb still operates a real estate business and is convinced that non-retirement has kept him healthy and alert—with a little help from one Advil daily.

Marguerite Goetke Larsen enjoys watching the animals in her wooded yard in Middletown, NJ. “It’s amazing just being alive to celebrate my 90th birthday in September,” she says. Her undergraduate life was a little different from most of us as she was married to Bernhard Deutch ’51, MS ’53, and lived off campus her sophomore, junior, and senior years. She enjoys her family, which includes three grown children and four grandchildren, and loves having a cat for a pet. Her newest hobby is “remembering to eat properly.” We could all take lessons!

Ruth Christoff Landon spent a lot of time working in the garden this year after having a large new area cultivated. At 91, she’s a survivor who takes care of the garden, the house, herself, a dog, and a cat. “I enjoy visiting the ‘children,’ five of whom are now in their 60s, and seeing their success and happiness.” And there’s lots of family to visit! Her oldest great-granddaughter graduated high school this year and is off to BU for college. “We have two new baby boy ‘greats,’ which adds up to a dozen grands and seven greats—all of whom are doing well!” In addition to the gardening, Ruth also spends time writing. Thinking about her years at Cornell, she remembers rolling up her PJs and covering them with a raincoat to prepare for a trip to the food truck at the curb outside. Remember those yummy hot dogs? ❖ Caroline Mulford Owens (email Caroline); Jack Allen (email Jack); Bob Neff (email Bob); John Nixon (email John); Ed Gibson (email Ed). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1954

It is Reunion week in Ithaca as I write this column. On May 15, five Connecticut friends from non-Reuning ’50s classes met for a mini-reunion lunch at the Woodway Golf Club in Darien, CT. The event was hosted by Tom Gillespie ’55 and included Dick Shriver ’55, Jack Brophy ’53, and from our class Clancy Fauntleroy and your correspondent Bill Waters, MBA ’55. Also present were wives Martine Brophy and Barb Shriver, whose presence guaranteed there would be no improper trash talking!

For two hours of fellowship, we exchanged memories and stories of our days on the Hill and beyond. The meeting finished with a rousing singing of “Give My Regards to Davy” led by Cayuga’s Waiters stalwart Brophy. Surprisingly, all five of us (average age 89) knew all the words. The ghost of Theodore Zinck would be pleased. After the lunch, Dick and Clancy, both All-American lacrosse players at Cornell, retired to Clancy’s apartment to watch the current Big Red lacrosse team beat Ohio State in the first round of this year’s NCAA tournament. In subsequent weeks, Cornell beat Delaware and Rutgers before losing to undefeated Maryland in the national championship finals.

Joanne Wilson Wietgrefe (Shrewsbury, MA), whom we featured in an earlier column, recently sent me a beautifully written letter entitled the “Evening Song,” to which I related since it is my favorite piece of Cornell music. Joanne sang in the University a cappella chorus for all four of her Cornell years. There, she met her late husband, Walter, MS ’63, who also sang in the group. The following is from Joanne’s letter in her own words, lightly edited:

“For three and a half years I sang the ‘Evening Song’ every Saturday night before sitting down to dinner in the dorm. While we didn’t realize it, the first verse was closure for the week’s work, and it signaled a shift in lifestyle for the weekend. ‘When the sun fades far away / In the crimson of the west, / And the voices of the day / Murmur low and sink to rest.’ There’s no hint of pulling all-nighters, evening classes, or spending the night in a library carrel. A gentle daily closure floating down just as a sunset does.

“The second verse suggests the effect that cessation of high intensity college living has on the individual. ‘Welcome night and welcome rest; / Fading music, fare thee well! / Joy to all we love the best, / Love to thee, our fair Cornell!’ Then the refrain: ‘Music with the twilight falls / O’er the dreaming lake and dell; / ‘Tis an echo from the walls / Of our own, our fair Cornell.’ In Shrewsbury, if there’s a lovely sunset, you just might hear me standing in the window and singing the ‘Evening Song’ once again.” Thank you, Joanne.

If there’s a lovely sunset, you just might hear me standing in the window and singing the ‘Evening Song’ once again.
Joanne Wilson Wietgrefe ’54

On a somber note, we mourn the passing of another class officer with the death late last year of our longtime class president Ken Hershey. Ken came to Cornell from Rochester, NY, played on the Big Red golf team, earned his degree in Civil Engineering, and was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers just in time to be deployed to active duty during the Korean War. Under his command, Ken led a survey team to create the first topographical map of New Guinea. After his tour ended, he returned to Rochester, married his wife, Su, and became a partner in a successful civil engineering practice serving the needs of many water and sewer districts throughout Western New York.

Golf was a lifetime passion for Ken. He valued his 60-plus-year membership at the Monroe Golf Club. Also expert skiers, Ken and Su skied weekends at Bristol Mountain in Western New York and made an annual pilgrimage to Utah. In his 40s, Ken’s love of sports drew him to try platform tennis. He was hooked, becoming a lifetime member of the sport’s American association and a certified teaching professional. Ken is survived by Su, three children, and eight grandchildren. RIP. ❖ Bill Waters (email Bill); Ruth Carpenter Bailey (email Ruth). Class website. Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1955

Beverly MacNamara Wait spends her winters in Bonita Springs, FL, playing lots of bridge and some golf. She’s still in contact with Sandy Montgomery Elder.

Daniel Sachs reports that he’s “busier than ever in retirement! I’m teaching two learning-in-retirement courses: one titled ‘Fairy Tales—Not for Kids Only,’ and the other a religious history course called ‘Orthodoxy and Heresy Across the Millennia.’ I’m also singing in a 16-man singing group here at Riderwood, called the Gentlemen Songsters, and I’ve taken up painting again, in acrylics. Two of my paintings are hanging in a current exhibit of residents’ work. I also participate in a monthly meeting of the German Conversation Group at Riderwood, where we speak, in German, of whatever seems important to us. As a result, my German conversation ability has improved immensely. In 2007, I was initiated into the ManKind Project, and a group of us meets weekly to support each other in self-awareness and authenticity.”

“Whenever I receive Cornell mail, it lights up my day, and I remember back so many years when we were young and carefree,” writes Irene Adler Hirsch. “Several years ago, our oldest of three sons, Mark, delighted me with the news that his second of three lovely daughters was accepted at the Veterinary College. They have four dogs, and Emmy, who always has loved animals, decided to become a veterinarian. I asked if she mentioned my name, and he proudly answered that she didn’t but was accepted on her own account!

“In 1990, my husband, Henry, took early retirement from IBM, and we made a move that he had dreamed about, to Israel, the Holy Land. When our three boys were little, we couldn’t sell our house, but he, who had a tragic childhood in Germany during the Holocaust, insisted that we make the move when he retired! We settled in, and after several years I discovered that quite a number of Cornellians lived there too. I decided to organize a group called the Israel Cornell Club, which drew quite a few very interesting and highly educated members. Some years later, when I unfortunately had several operations, I was fortunate to find that one of our club’s members, Gershon Lewental ’03, was able to become my co-chairman, and our meetings drew some younger members.

Whenever I receive Cornell mail, it lights up my day, and I remember back so many years when we were young and carefree.
Irene Adler Hirsch ’55

“You asked about organizations: here in Netanya, Israel, we have a wonderful hospital called Laniado Hospital (named for two Italian brothers, whose family donated large sums of money), and I became active, after undergoing some successful surgeries, by organizing nine musical evenings, each taking close to a year to become quite popular. Until quite recently, regarding attending Cornell Reunions, I was proud to say that I had attended all except the first in 1960, when I gave birth to my first son. Since this hideous virus appeared, so much has changed; several years ago, I developed an illness that almost took my life, so the last Reunion was spent Zooming in. So many of my close Cornell friends have passed away, and I can’t know what 2025 will hold, but I would like to be optimistic.”

Ruth McDevitt Carrozza writes, “I returned to the Hill in October. So many changes! I had lunch at the new Hilton and ice cream at the Dairy Bar. I liked the old barn better.” She’s been camping with her daughter and son-in-law in a 32-ft. travel trailer in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Maine. This year, they planned to camp in South Carolina, Tallahassee, and Maine, and Ruth hoped to see white elk in Pennsylvania. She reports that her second grandchild was born! “Willow in Florida joins Ellis in Maine.” What brings her the most satisfaction these days? “Being 15 minutes away from my daughter, who is my chauffeur since I gave up driving. I also enjoy riding behind my son-in-law on his Harley—one son calls me ‘Biker Mom.’ There are craft classes here where I live and I read a lot—two to three books a week—and I still love cooking and camping in the woods.”

Edgar Liberman reports that, though COVID has restricted his activities, he still enjoys golf, travel, reading, and good food.

“A year ago, I sold my house and moved to Lantern Hill, a continuing care retirement community in New Providence, NJ,” writes Barbara Balsam Brown. “I no longer worry about maintenance of the house, rarely cook or clean, and have a relatively carefree life. I swim laps three mornings a week, take walks on the other mornings, participate in strength and stretch classes, and have joined a few committees. It is a very welcoming environment. I know some people from my former life in Springfield and have met many new friends.”

I enjoy riding behind my son-in-law on his Harley—one son calls me ‘Biker Mom.’
Ruth McDevitt Carrozza ’55

Barbara adds, “My son and daughter and their families are well. My granddaughter in Chicago has presented me with an adorable great-grandson, who I’ve only seen in person once so far. My granddaughter in Martinsville, NJ, has just started college. My granddaughter in NYC and her husband are about to move temporarily to California on business. We see each other as much as possible.”

Marlene Medjuck Green writes, “Life changes gradually when you reach 88. You try to stay connected to all those who are important to you, and try to broaden your interests as much as possible. Wasn’t it in Howards End that we read ‘Only connect!’? I plan to sell my New Canaan, CT, house this year and stay most of the time in Boca Raton, FL. It is time. No more back and forth moves, with more connections here than there.

“I belong to a good book group and a forum that discusses current issues, both meeting once a month. I see another Cornellian, Dick Landsman ’48, once a week for a drink, dinner, and usually an old movie. Once a week I meet with friends for lunch and social bridge. I also very much enjoy the challenge of duplicate bridge online. Another treat is having lunch with my daughter who lives near me in Boca Raton. Having had COVID in June 2020, I am not ready yet to do much indoor socializing that involves crowds.”

Marlene adds, “My greatest joys number 30: 18 grandchildren and 12 greats. The good and the bad of it is that my large family lives all over the globe—Australia, New Zealand, and, in this country, Texas, California, Maryland, New York, and Florida.” Stay tuned for more news in our next column! ❖ Class of 1955 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1956

Leo Convery is still living on Martha’s Vineyard. He’s staying busy visiting doctors and dentists, and notes that he “gave up Florida this winter.” His grandkids are grown now, and two are graduating next year, from UMass and Florida State University. Leo enjoys “helping our local Rotary club with its projects” and adds that he’s still wood carving, “winning prizes at the local fair every year.”

Mary Ann “Polly” Whitaker Dolliver, still in Spokane, WA, writes, “I’m enjoying the activities and new friendships of a retirement community. I’m still in the same general community in Spokane, WA, where I’ve spent the last 50 years, so I have plenty to do and enjoy.” Polly gets great satisfaction from “engaging with family that is continually growing and staying in touch. I’m looking forward to more travel and post-COVID freedom, hopefully.”

When asked what he’s doing now that he never imagined, Larry Brown (Lake Forest, IL) writes, “Completing 15 years of marriage to my second wife, after having been married 50 years to my first wife—both named Ann.” Larry is active administratively at the retirement community where he lives. He has a couple of new hobbies these days: poker and ping-pong.

Richard Lindsay is now heading up the Lindsay Institute for Innovations in Caregiving. He’s also “editing a magazine, Virginia Navigation.” The most satisfaction in his life these days comes from teaching in med school.

Roy Curtiss (Gainesville, FL) has been working from home, constructing and evaluating vaccines for farm animals, writing patent applications, and enjoying doing science. Roy was elected fellow of the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases and received the Zoetis Award for Excellence in Veterinary Research.

Look for news from more classmates in our next column. ❖ Phyllis Bosworth (email Phyllis). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1957

The Libe Tower Chimes rang out to welcome us home to our 65th Reunion. Reunion co-chairs Roberta Grunert DeVries and Mary Hobbie Berkelman claimed they had no influence on this, but both Alma Mater and Mother Nature cooperated to give us sunny skies, moderate temperatures, and glorious sunsets. First arrivals Ephraim and Jane McLean and Stu and Tornie MacKay quickly found our Statler registration lounge as they spotted our bright red 5 and 7 numerals marking the spot.

The Campus-to-Campus Bus from NYC arrived with Paul and Paulette Noble, Ruby Tomberg Senie, Christine Zeller Lippman, and Judy Richter Levy, LLB ’59, just in time for the “Passing It Forward” reception. This is where Dori Goudsmit Albert and her beau, Charlie Ford, taught me of the delight of a wine spritzer. Our first class dinner followed in the Statler’s Terrace Restaurant. Marcia Wishengrad Metzger, JD ’60, and husband Bob told us that on their way to Cornell, they stopped at Concordia at Sumner Assisted Living in Copley, OH, to visit Joe ’56, MBA ’58, and Sue DeRosay Henninger. Doug Currie, there with wife Margaret, shared his experiences with his continuing contracts with the agency placing mirrors on the moon. Did you know that the moon has a liquid core? Joining us from nearby Trumansburg, NY, was Nan Krauthamer Goldberg and from Kendal at Ithaca were Tony, MBA ’58, and Gail Lautzenheiser Cashen, along with Marj Nelson Smart and her partner, Bob Camp ’58, MBA ’60. Marj has become the president of Kendal’s residents’ council. Paul ’55, MD ’59, and Jo Field Bleakley arrived from Geneva, NY. Jo and I laughed that during our high school days, we were likely in the same place at the same time as our sports teams played against each other.

Early birds at our class buffet breakfast were Tom and Shirley Besemer Itin, BS ’00. They were looking forward to making a sentimental trip out Rte. 79 to Besemer, NY, Shirley’s family domain. Robert Seidel was shocked to see his name on our deceased list. He was surprised to learn we had two classmates with the same name. One Robert Seidel, originally from Columbia County, who later resided in the Rochester, NY, area, passed away in 2015. The sentient Robert resides in Clifton Park, NY, with wife Patricia and worked for General Electric. In fact, their children were students along with my children at Shenendehowa High School, where I was a guidance counselor. We saw a lot of Ray Sears and his wife, Audrey (Wildner) ’58, and Richard ’58, PhD ’65, and Connie Case Haggard ’58, the co-chairs for their upcoming Reunion. They were busy making notes while shadowing our Reunion. Bob Steele, who lives in Williamsburg, VA, said he crosses paths with Colin Campbell occasionally. His fraternity brother Edwin Mihm, MBA ’58, remembered writing this column in our early alumni days.

At Reunion, both Alma Mater and Mother Nature cooperated to give us sunny skies, moderate temperatures, and glorious sunsets.
Connie Santagato Hosterman ’57

We filled Friday attending some of the many events, including President Martha Pollack’s conversation with current Cornell students. As we gathered together for our class dinner at Trillium Dining in Kennedy Hall, we were serenaded by the Sherwoods and their mellow harmonies. Associate VP for Alumni Affairs Michelle Vaeth ’98 and her husband were our guests. Michelle congratulated our class for our many contributions to Cornell while we enjoyed our meal and the ever-flowing wine. Following that, we headed back to the Statler for an Afterglow with the Class of 1952. With our Cornell songbook in hand, the golden oldies were heard once again.

What a busy day Saturday was! College breakfasts started the day as we scattered across campus. Bill Nye ’77, the “Science Guy,” gave a highly attended address in Schoellkopf Stadium. The powers that be, knowing many of the almost 6,000 Reunion attendees would want to hear him, judged Bailey Hall would not offer sufficient seating. Good choice, especially since the predicted rain disappeared. Bill Nye magic?

Soon it was time for our class bus tour of campus to see the many new buildings, particularly the new dormitories springing up on North Campus. We were told that all freshmen and sophomores would be living in college housing in the fall. The observatory that we once saw far off from Clara Dickson across barren fields will have to be moved to near Sapsucker Woods because the light pollution from all the dorms now filling those fields prevent desired research. The tour ended at the renovated Stocking Hall Dairy Bar, where delicious ice cream awaited us. Sari Feldman Zukerman, who had not been back to campus since she graduated 65 years ago, was heard to say she had never been there before.

After our class photo, we returned to the Terrace Restaurant for our business meeting and dinner. President Betty Starr King called us to order and recalled the beginning of her term of office. At our 60th Reunion, she became so ill she was hospitalized until that Monday, so missed her own election. Since then and through the pandemic, she has kept our class informed with her letters to us. Treasurer Stu MacKay gave the report that we are indeed solvent with $70,000 in our account. Our donations to the Cornell Annual Fund topped $13 million, smashing our goal of $9.5 million. We also set records for the 65th Reunion with number of Tower Club members and total numbers of donors. Our lifetime total of donations exceeds $134 million.

With our Cornell songbook in hand, the golden oldies were heard once again.

Bob Watts sent his nominations as follows: president, Paul Noble; VP, Roberta DeVries; treasurer, Stu MacKay; secretary, Connie Santagato Hosterman. Roberta will continue in her 30-year term as Cornell Annual Fund representative and Christine Zeller Lippman as historian. All Regional VPs will also continue. The slate was unanimously approved. Paul Noble spoke briefly, thanking Mary and Roberta for their efforts in producing this successful Reunion and asking for input on how best to use the money in our account. Dinner was served, again with the wine flowing. At our table Phil Manaker regaled us with the charming tale of how he met his wife, Rosemary, and Mabel Klisch Deal recalled teaching home economics to classes filled by young men. Pictures were taken of all, including John Sarna, Richard and Pamela Abell, Ron Dunbar, and Richard and Jeanne Dent.

Some classmates headed to Schoellkopf for Cornelliana Night, but Sue Breslow Dillon discovered that the streaming of Cornelliana could be accessed and watched in our registration lounge—and about 50 of us, including many from the Class of 1952, enjoyed the show from comfortable seats. Charlie Parker, BME ’59, then tried to start another Afterglow with a few of our singers, but many were anxious to begin filling our suitcases.

The virtual prize for which male classmate traveled the farthest could go to either Stu MacKay from Tucson, AZ, or Bob Martin from Sedona, AZ. No tie is involved for the female who traveled the farthest: Judith Tischler Rogers claims that title, coming from Colorado Springs, CO. The classmate living closest to the Canadian border has to be Paul Garrett. He and Sandy live on Wellesley Island, NY, and could probably hit a golf ball over the border from their home on the St. Lawrence River.

Our last class breakfast was filled with goodbyes and safe journey wishes. Our remaining task was to match names to the photos taken the previous evening. This endeavor was graciously applauded by John Reohr’s wife, Patricia (Erb) ’60. An optimistic “See you in five years” wish went out to all as we parted with warm feelings stored in our hearts. ❖ Connie Santagato Hosterman (email Connie). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1958

Though our class roster keeps getting smaller (hence a shorter column), we still have some interesting news! Albert Caines is retired and usually goes fishing every day. He still loves to watch Cornell Athletics and Syracuse Crunch hockey. Richard Stormont is retired and dating again, since his wife has been deceased since 2019. He is enjoying catching up on all he couldn’t do before.

Ann Gaffey Coyne is back from Nebraska and living in Kendal at Ithaca. Her son died in Nebraska in 2020 and she couldn’t travel back there because of COVID. However, she has met lots of new friends in Ithaca and says it feels a bit like being back at school and eating in the dorm dining room! Her most recent hobby is trying to learn how all these new electronic machines work.

Almeda “A.C.” Church Riley is president of the residents’ association of her retirement community and is active in her church and the Cornell Advisory Group. She also keeps busy playing golf and bridge. She had three generations at the recent Trustee-Council Annual Meeting: two daughters, Laura Dake Roche ’81 and Renee Dake Wilson ’92, and granddaughter Carolyn Roche ’20. She also has a grandson in the Class of ’25!

Dorinda Larkin McNamara lives in Southern Pines, NC, at an independent living place. She is in good health and enjoys exercise and reading. Irene Rizzi Metzger is devouring everything she can on her Buffalo Bills football team. She loves following pro football! She still lives in her house of 56 years and is enjoying two great-grandsons, born in 2021 and 2022.

Bunny Hartmann Linthorst-Homan is painting in oils and pastels. For the past 25–30 years, she has been painting portraits and still lifes. She also enjoys gardening and bird watching. Marilyn Winters Boger is buying a home in a mobile-home park in Bradenton Park, FL. She keeps busy reading, bicycling, and sewing pillowcases for children’s hospitals and theater costumes for high school and community theaters. She recently picked up a new hobby—shuffleboard!

Stephan Wittkowsky lives in Guatemala but also lives in Chapel Hill, NC, six months of the year. He does voluntary teaching and other activities at two Guatemalan universities plus Duke University and UNC Chapel Hill and mentoring at SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives).

Bob Beringer is still leading devotional services in his retirement community. He has just finished teaching a class on “Biblical Women Who Changed History.” He also has performed weddings for two of his granddaughters. Fred Sherman is still active in the American Youth Soccer Organization. He has completed about 35 online courses, working toward his degree. He is in good health and continues to work on his family tree.

That’s it for the summer news! ❖ Jan Arps Jarvie (email Jan); Dick Haggard, (email Dick). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1959

It was a historic match-up on Memorial Day, as the two lacrosse teams who played in the inaugural NCAA lacrosse championship game back in 1971 met again. But this year, it was the University of Maryland that came out on top, besting Cornell 9-7. Frank Mead, Steve Friedman, Harry Petchesky, Ron Demer, and Al Newhouse were among the ’59ers who followed the game. “We were on a roll in the fourth quarter, but Maryland’s goalie was just too good,” comments Frank. “Both coaches were Cornellians and so we need to give the ultimate credit to the teachings of Coach Richie Moran, who was the best in the land!” (Moran, known nationwide for his contributions to lacrosse, coached at Cornell from 1969–97; he died this past April.)

“Friendships forged freshman year have endured and deepened,” writes Susan Itkin Sarlin. “Throughout the pandemic, our group has Zoomed monthly. We talk of politics, literature, movies, and activities. However, most supportive is the personal: losses of partners, grief and illness, and the healing of shared recollections. With gratitude and love to Tammy Livingston Weintraub, Judy Goldman Frommer, Beth Amster Hess, Barbara Benioff Friedman, Susan Cohen Lubick, Rachel Rudin Blechman, and Carole Sahn Sheft.”

Bill and Susan Phelps Day ’60, MEd ’62, now live in an assisted living facility in Alameda, CA. Bill continues to run two miles a day and consults part time for the U.S. Department of Energy on industrial gas turbines.

“Retired? Not yet!” says Beth Weinstein Newburger-Schwartz. She is chair of the Newburger-Schwartz Family Foundation; the founder and CEO of Middle Finger Productions; and a trustee at Arena Stage, National Children’s Museum, George Washington Foundation, Hillwood Museum, and the Franklin Roosevelt Library at Hyde Park.

Carol Horowitz Schulhof, MEd ’61, is on the board of a K–8 charter school, Brooklyn Excelsior, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. She is also a volunteer guide for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Husband Peter, BEE ’61, volunteers for Big Apple Greeter, an organization that gives free tours for visitors to NYC. He specializes in tours of two Brooklyn neighborhoods: posh Brooklyn Heights and the trendy Dumbo. Their son, Paul Schulhof ’92, is an architect working on the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago and David Geffen Hall at NYC’s Lincoln Center. He is a partner at Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects.

Friendships forged freshman year have endured and deepened.
Susan Itkin Sarlin ’59

Sam and Celinda Cass-Scott of Indiana, PA, are “basking in the fact that we celebrated our 60th anniversary in 2021 and are healthy and comfortable and just enjoying life.” Celinda has a longtime interest in genealogy: “I like doing family trees for people—I’ve done more than 70. I learned a couple of years ago that one of my eighth-great-grandparents was John Alden, a signer of the Mayflower Compact, the first written document providing for self-government in what would later become the U.S.” She is an active member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, the NAACP, and her local Episcopal church.

“Joan and I started out as two hippie migrants from the urban fast lanes of the East Coast,” writes Paul Katzeff. “We met in Mendocino, CA, when I was 34, and together we came to the conclusion that roasting coffee was a better way to support ourselves than stringing beads or making leather items or candles. This year we celebrate two 50-year anniversaries: our wedding anniversary and the founding of Thanksgiving Coffee Company.” The company set up shop in Fort Bragg, just north of Mendocino, where today 25 employees roast, package, deliver, and ship several dozen blends of coffee.

In the early 1980s, under Paul’s leadership, the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) was formed, and under his presidency held its first conference, “Coffee, Human Rights, and Third World Economies.” The following year, after Paul visited Nicaragua for the first time and witnessed the poor living conditions of coffee farmers, Thanksgiving Coffee’s mission expanded to include a commitment to improve the lives of its farming family. The company motto and message became “Not Just a Cup, But a Just Cup.” Says Paul: “We are proud to be a certified B Corporation that partners with small family farms and fair-trade coffee cooperatives on five continents.”

Paul’s most important work in the industry was securing a $400,000 USAID grant in 2000 that enabled him to build the first cupping laboratories on small-scale farmer cooperatives in Nicaragua. (“Cupping” is a way for producers and buyers to taste and evaluate the flavor and quality of a given coffee.) “Before 2000 it was unheard of for small-scale coffee farmers anywhere in the world to have access to a coffee testing laboratory where they could bring their coffee for flavor evaluation.” ❖ Jenny Tesar (email Jenny). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

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Classes of the 1960s

1960

Exciting news arrived in May, when Lauren Coffey, director of Class Programs, announced that Linda Jarschauer Johnson, MS ’63, our excellent Reunion co-chair, was selected by the CACO board as the recipient of the annual William “Bill” Vanneman ’31 Outstanding Class Leader Award. Lauren writes, “This prestigious accolade recognizes class officers who have provided long-term exemplary service to their class, as Bill Vanneman did so graciously for 75 years. I feel lucky to have gotten to know Linda over the past few years and believe the CACO board made a fantastic decision in selecting her as this year’s recipient!” At Reunion 2022, Linda received her award during Cornelliana Night in Schoellkopf Stadium, after long hours helping fellow Cornellians find links to virtual Reunion events, thus proving her extraordinary dedication to any projects with which she is tasked. Warmest congratulations, Linda! We salute you for the years of your splendid work for the Class of 1960.

David Zornow reports that he is “still living in Slingerlands, NY, a suburb of Albany. I semi-retired from my urology practice in 2008 (stopped operating; still miss it) and worked part time in the office until 2018, when I fully retired. I get to an occasional hockey game when Cornell comes to town to play Union or RPI and am fortunate to have two children and four grandchildren living in the area. My daughter coaches the local high school girls’ basketball team, which we follow closely.” Looking ahead, Dave says he’s “planning a trip down the Danube in the fall and one to San Francisco to visit my number-three child, her husband, and two grandchildren. Iva and I split our time between Albany and our home in Fripp Island, SC, where the whole family gathers each year. I’d love to hear from any Cornellians in the area.”

Linda Karp Blumenthal, MS ’61, writes from Columbus, OH, “It’s been four years since my husband, Saul ’57, PhD ’62, died. I keep busy with freelance writing science textbooks and online learning programs. COVID keeps me fairly close to home, although I visited son Edward ’87 and his family in Milwaukee for Thanksgiving and went on a week-long vacation with my daughter and her partner. What brings me the most satisfaction is book club, classes at my temple, an international dining group, and a few other group activities, mostly via Zoom. Happily, my three children and seven grandchildren are thriving.”

Linda Jarschauer Johnson ’60, MS ’63, our excellent Reunion co-chair, is the recipient of the annual William ‘Bill’ Vanneman ’31 Outstanding Class Leader Award.

Ray Skaddan wrote from Warminster, PA, that “after an adjustment period, I have learned to really enjoy retirement. Doing a lot of traveling, Lynda and I keep an active pace for as long as we are able. A highlight last year was a month in England in October; we loved every minute. We also go to Cape Cod every September, Chautauqua in August, etc. Getting ready now for three weeks in Florida. Last winter we spent five months in beautiful Skaneateles; cold but a really nice getaway. Family gatherings continue to be important and joyful. We are now great-grandparents of delightful young Amelia.”

Spending time near home in Tucson, James “J.T.” Tsighis says that COVID “has been pretty much in control over the past two years. As a result, my wife, Linda, and I had to cancel several trips; we missed out on conferences in Hawaii, San Diego, and Marco Island, FL. We are still active realtors who sell to clients referred by others we have served, but I’ve given up being an expert witness on real estate and working as a mentor to real estate professionals. Life is good, however; I am blessed with a wonderful wife and two caring daughters: Zoee, who lives in Phoenix, and Liberty, in Jupiter, FL, with our only grandchild. We are grateful for every precious moment life gives us.”

In Gwynedd Valley, PA, Dick Thatcher, MBA ’62, reports that he is “still active as a managing director of Fairmount Partners, a middle market investment bank focused on the technology and healthcare sectors. Business the last two years has been booming—busier than ever. By the grace of God, I remain healthy, as does my family, which includes three other Cornell alumni.” Nora Heller Freund says she and her husband, John, are still living quietly in Toronto, “but are happy to report that we just got our first great-grandchild,” now part of the Freund family that also includes ten grandchildren.

With great sadness, I send heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Carrie Warnow Makover, our excellent Class of ’60 webmaster, whom we lost to illness in mid-May. Linda Johnson knew her well and says she was “a very special person. We worked closely together on Reunions; Carrie was a real trooper and a diligent worker. She will be missed, but what a treat it was to have known her.” A landscape designer and environmental planner, Carrie is survived by her daughter Kathryn, son Daniel, and longtime partner Richard Stein.

More sad news soon followed: the May death of another classmate, Eva Metzger Brown, who was profiled in the Boston Globe. A psychotherapist and Holocaust scholar and longtime resident of Amherst, MA, Eva was married for 60 years to Norman Brown. He survives her, as do three children, including Carolyn Brown Mitchell ’86, seven grandchildren, and a great-grandson. ❖ Judy Bryant Wittenberg (email Judy). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1961

We did it! Our Class of ’61 succeeded in funding our recognition of Pete Meinig’s contribution to Cornell. On June 10, the dedication of the Peter Meinig Reading Room in Olin Library was held. The new reading room is on the third floor of Olin, which stands where Boardman Hall once stood. It is a spacious room with multiple reading tables, all of which are wired for computers. The large windows look out onto Uris Library (formerly the Main Library) and onto the Quad. During the ceremony, a formal presentation of the Class of 1961’s gift to associate University librarian Bonna Boettcher was made. She expressed pleasure at having received such a unique gift.

Ken Blanchard, PhD ’67, gave a moving and thoughtful presentation about Peter and their longtime friendship. He also mentioned Peter and wife Nancy (Schlegel) ’62’s gifts to the University and Peter’s extraordinary leadership as the chair of the Board of Trustees during times of great challenge. Nancy also gave a gracious comment about the gift and its meaning because of the time she and Peter spent in libraries during their undergraduate years. The two-hour event was attended by 38 people and eight classmates including Walt Cottrell, MBA ’63, Marshall and Rosanna Romanelli Frank, Jim Moore, LLB ’64, Warren Spicka, Pat Laux Richards, and Mort Hodin.

The memorial reading room initiative arose from an earlier conversation between class president Dick Tatlow and Nancy Meinig. With a major assist from Marshall Frank, the fundraising campaign gained momentum and ultimate success. All of us should acknowledge and applaud Dick’s effort in bringing the memorial to reality. Dick asked that staffers behind the scenes be recognized also: Colleen Drozd (funding) and Jennifer Sawyer (major library contact) both played important roles in bringing the memorial to reality.

We have received a surge of responses from the News and Dues mailing. Larry Wheeler, our webmaster, writes, “We are planning to take a river cruise in the Bordeaux region of France. It has been canceled twice due to COVID and we hope the third try will be the charm. In addition to being our class webmaster, I manage three other websites. I also mediate civil disputes at our county dispute resolution center (14 years now). I serve as president of our condominium association; we have a vacation condo on the Comal River. Still playing golf once or twice a week and watching our grandchildren grow up and seek new careers.”

Now from Margaret Williams Puck: “We’ve moved to a continuing care retirement place about two miles west of our home of 36 years in Encinitas. We’re enjoying all the activities available in a lovely setting and making many new friends. We have six grandchildren, ages 6 to 22, five boys and one granddaughter. We enjoy our frequent visits.”

A highlight [of our trip to Paris and Scotland] was a black-tie formal anniversary dinner held on the HMS Britannia, the former yacht of Queen Elizabeth.
Doug Fuss ’61

A brief note from Walt Cottrell, our class treasurer. He and wife Jean (Springer) ’63 continue to reside in Ithaca. They celebrated the acceptance of their granddaughter to Cornell as a sophomore for fall 2022. Howard Morse writes that he and wife Barbara are living in Manhattan and continue to pursue their interest in contemporary art.

Marilyn McCarthy Nutting is living in Wellesley, MA. “I’ve retired from my past work and now enjoy having a flexible schedule. I enjoy walking, biking, gardening, my volunteer work, and singing in our wonderful church choir. One of these days I plan a return to Ithaca.”

James Baden, MD ’65, and wife Sheila still live on Hilton Head Island. “I am working as a volunteer at a medical clinic on Hilton Head as well as singing barbershop a cappella music. Grandson is now a pilot for United—but no free travel included.”

After a two-and-a-half-year COVID-19 hiatus, Sue and I (Doug Fuss) traveled to Paris and Scotland. A highlight was a black-tie formal anniversary dinner held on the HMS Britannia, the former yacht of Queen Elizabeth. Our hosts hold a destination celebration every five years. The yacht, a throwback to a past generation, is a well-appointed museum and special events center. The other highlight of our trip was the suspension of negative COVID-19 testing for reentry to the U.S. The cessation of this requirement was announced the day before our return. Although we made all of our connections, the trip was made more difficult given the crowds and understaffing at all the airports.

Ron Demer ’59, BME ’60, sent a recent email informing me of the death of Charles “Chuck” Lee in May. Chuck had an outstanding career, both as an executive and as a trustee and supporter of Cornell. Most notably, he was CEO and chairman of Verizon. Both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times carried extensive articles highlighting his career; they are available online.

You are now receiving the Class Notes as part of Cornellians, the new alumni publication. Please keep your news flowing to us. ❖ Doug Fuss (email Doug); and Susan Williams Stevens (email Susan). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1962

As you may have heard, we had a wonderful gathering of 62 classmates and 48 guests at our 60th Reunion in June. Good weather, nice pacing, lots of support getting from one place to another, and terrific people combined to make this a memorable time for all who attended. This column will be a combination of Reunion memories and older memories sparked by Reunion thoughts.

I’m taking the correspondent’s prerogative to go first! Here’s a memory of my husband Dave Major ’61’s and my walk to Duffield Hall for the Friday night class dinner: We were walking down the street toward Duffield when we ran into three young male students who were very talkative. They asked us what class we were from and where we were headed. When we told them ’62 and Duffield Hall, they said, “Is Duffield one of those dudes from the 1800s?” When I told them he was my classmate, they couldn’t believe it—they started laughing hysterically. They then insisted on being an honor guard for us and escorted us.

Our class president, Neil Schilke, MS ’64, wrote, “On Saturday night, I noted that our class has had eight presidents since we graduated, and all were present: John Abel, Jon Hinebauch, MBA ’67, Margie McKee Blanchard, MA ’65, Frank Quirk, MBA ’64, Fred Hart, Alex Vollmer, MS ’64, Ruth Zimmerman Bleyler, and me. Pretty special! One other memory I have is the excellent presentation at the Johnson Museum by Kate Addleman-Frankel, the photography curator. She did a great job. I’m always impressed with experts, and curators fit that category; it seemed like Kate had a list of adjectives way beyond that used by the common person. Like I said, her presentation, which lasted about 45 minutes, was excellent. Then came the Q&A. One tends to forget just how bright Cornellians are, but the Q&A was a real reminder of that. The questions went on for about 30 minutes and they were really insightful. Kate kept saying, ‘That’s a really good question.’ Finally, she said something like, ‘You guys are really asking the right questions and I love it!’”

Nancy Williams Clark, MEd ’64, took a break from her busy schedule overseeing our class Reunion activities to attend the 9 a.m. “Passing of the Top Hat” ceremony at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). The Passing of the Top Hat tradition began with Liberty Hyde Bailey, first dean of CALS and the hat’s original owner. According to CALS legend, when Bailey retired as dean in 1913, he didn’t have a use for the top hat back on the farm, so he passed it on to the next dean who in turn passed it on, and so forth and so on. At our 2022 Reunion, Dean Kathryn Boor ’80, who received the hat from Dean David Call ’54, PhD ’60, more than a decade ago, passed it on to the current dean, Benjamin Houlton. According to Nancy, the CALS connection runs deep in the Clark family. “Tom ’63, MBA ’64, was in CALS, I did my master’s in CALS, all three of our kids were in CALS, and now five of our grandchildren are or have been in CALS. We have been very friendly with Dave Call, dean for 17 years, and then Kathryn Boor, who is now dean of the Graduate School.”

Retired botany professor Karl Niklas invited us and a few others into a greenhouse for a private tour. It was magical.
Judy Prenske Rich ’62

Judy Prenske Rich writes: “After Bill Nye ’77’s amusing and very informative talk in Schoellkopf Field, my husband, Bruce ’60, and I wandered up Tower Road toward the Agriculture College greenhouses, fully intending to explore what was currently growing inside, as we have on previous visits to Cornell. Much to our dismay, the greenhouses were locked up tight. Apparently there had been a guided tour that had run concurrent with the Nye talk, but the tour was long over and entry to the greenhouses was now barred. A distinguished-looking gentleman standing on the path explained what we had missed and tried to assuage our disappointment. Not happening. And then he introduced himself as Karl Niklas, retired botany professor and the conductor of the tour, telling us all about what we had missed. As we chatted a bit, obviously sensing how dismayed we were, he dangled a set of keys in front of us and invited us and a few others hanging around into a greenhouse for a private tour. It was magical. By the time it was over, all I could think about was where could I find plant science courses in the middle of Manhattan where we live? My delight with what I learned that day in Ithaca remains, and I have located several interesting classes at the New York Botanical Garden, which I intend to pursue in the fall. Hail, Cornell.”

Thanks to Ronald Demer ’59 for forwarding an article about a recent Meinig family award, some of which is excerpted here. “The Meinig family, which President Martha E. Pollack described as ‘one of Cornell’s most engaged, successful, and generous multigenerational families,’ was honored May 27 with the 2022 Cornell Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award during a ceremony in Duffield Hall. Three of the four generations of Meinigs who have attended Cornell thus far were on hand to accept the award, which recognizes Engineering alumni whose leadership and vision have transformed the world and brought distinction to the College of Engineering and Cornell. Carl Meinig ’31, BEE ’33, was the first member of the family to attend Cornell, arriving in 1927, and was joined by his younger brother, Hans ’33, two years later. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree, Carl earned a professional degree in Electrical Engineering, forming a lasting connection between the Meinigs and Cornell Engineering. Peter Meinig ’61 chose to attend his father Carl’s alma mater, a decision that proved to be transformative for both his family and the institution. At Cornell, he met his wife, Nancy (Schlegel). Over the course of more than five decades together, they built ‘a rich history of partnership and impact … characterized by service, dedication, and selfless giving back and doing good.’ A successful entrepreneur and businessman, Peter was active on various committees and initiatives across the university and joined the Cornell University Board of Trustees on which he served two terms as its chairman before he died in 2017.”

Nancy attended the award ceremony with several of her family members, including her daughters Sally Snipes and Anne Meinig Smalling ’87, a Cornell trustee and a co-chair of both the University-wide and the Engineering “To Do the Greatest Good” campaign committees. Ron also provided this sweet memory: “You might be interested in an anecdote about Nancy. She attended a Sunday afternoon tea party for freshman women at my fraternity, SAE. A few days later, she sent us a charming thank you note. No one else did so. We were very impressed, and her gracious note was read at our chapter meeting.”

Steve Ploscowe, LLB ’65, writes, “As the campaign chair, I just wanted to thank all of our class donors for making the Class of 1962 successful, with the most-ever 60th Reunion donors to Cornell. Our $40,000,000 gift to the University is truly wonderful and amazing. Many thanks to everyone.” Steve also notes that he has been “reading more and more books” as a result of both retirement and being cooped up because of COVID. He’s still handling some cases as a labor relations arbitrator and gets great satisfaction from watching his grandchildren grow, go to college, and start work as graduates: “My granddaughter Sydney Rosen ’24 is a third-generation Cornellian—following me, my wife, Wendie (Malkin) ’65, and daughter Lauren Ploscowe Rosen ’92. My grandson Oscar made the U.S. under-18 hockey team for the 2022 Maccabiah World Games.”

Richard Alther writes, “Things keep happening at our ripe old age! Good news—last year I submitted Bedside Matters in the fiction category for the Book Excellence Awards, and it has been named a finalist.”

Anne Kaczmarczyk Evans has been busy this summer, enjoying the golf season and volunteering with Medicare, a historical society, and church. She notes that she never imagined she’d be giving COVID vaccines. She’s also, sadly, been attending the funerals of some friends—but adds that she’s been taking a ballroom dance class with a new partner. Anne says that she gets great satisfaction from helping others who have unmet needs, and she enjoys her new hobbies of making perogies for church benefits and baking Ukrainian tarts.

Anne Kaczmarczyk Evans ’62 enjoys her new hobbies of making perogies for church benefits and baking Ukrainian tarts.

Jacqueline Browne Bugnion writes, “My husband and I have founded a foundation to support education in poor countries. Called Fondation de Mire-Mont, it’s active in three countries. The major project is in Burkina Faso, supporting an agricultural school that is involved in the Great Green Wall, a trans-African project of reforestation. We are providing seed money for this, as well as budgeting and guidance. We are also reaching out to international organizations and foundations to obtain the substantial funds required to plant 10% of Burkina Faso’s share of the Great Green Wall.” On the family front, Jacqueline shares, “Watching our three great-grandchildren grow up is a pleasure.” She goes to a fitness center four times per week and finds “the challenge to remain active and fit in old age” to be satisfying. To stay mentally fit, Jacqueline writes, “I joined a ladies’ reading group and have discovered new fields. I also play the New York Times Wordle game every day.”

DeeDee McCoy Stovel shares, “During COVID, staying connected became more important than ever. Four classmates—Larrie Dockerill Rockwell, Sondra Rudgers Dunne, BS ’61, Katie Simmons Kaufman, and myself—started Zooming on a monthly basis across time zones.”

Gail Strand Wiley writes, “I own an 85-pound Bernese mix dog named Daisy, the first dog I’ve ever owned. She’s taught me a lot!” Gail loves “the relaxed schedule of retirement. I take classes for seniors at the local college, part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes—no tests, no papers, no reading unless you want to. I also love gardening, occasional cooking, exercise class, and reading. I try to keep up with two sons and two stepdaughters and their families. Four of our six grandchildren are college grads already! My husband and I took a trip to Alaska in May that included kayaking, hiking, and seeing whales, seals, and eagles. A great trip. Living in Asheville, NC, we get to enjoy the beauty of the mountains in all seasons. I especially appreciate hiking in the woods to see the wildflowers in the spring!” Gail adds, “I’ve gone back to knitting after about a 40-year hiatus. I’m also enjoying monthly Zoom get-togethers with five women from my White Plains, NY, high school class of 1958!”

Please keep those stories, memories, and updates coming! ❖ Evelyn Eskin (email Evelyn). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1963

REUNION ALERT: Acting class president Paula Trested Laholt wants us all to save the date for our 60th Reunion celebration: June 8–11, 2023. It is not too soon to think about planning our activities, events, and entertainment. She is looking for anyone who wants to be involved in the selection of sites, food, or presentations to the class. Email Paula here. Planning will be underway toward the end of the summer and into the fall. Help is needed and … it is FUN! She hopes to hear from several classmates.

I received a nice email from Frankie Campbell Tutt from Colorado Springs. “I am currently in the hospital after seven-plus hours of spine surgery. Skied too many bumps. Bill has been retired for more than 30 years but serves on or chairs many local boards. Son Ben, MMH ’97, manages the Condado Vanderbilt in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A family of hoteliers. Colorado Springs and the Broadmoor are glorious; Colorado skies are a brilliant blue. Life is good.”

Eric Jaffe and Barbara (Brown ’60) live in Scarsdale, NY. Eric writes: “I am still teaching one day a week at One Brooklyn Hospital in Brooklyn. Our granddaughter is going to the University of Michigan in the fall.”

Russell “Rusty” Stevenson and Margie Axtell ’66 live in Severna Park, MD. Rusty writes, “I finally retired (the third time) for good. I am chair of the board of Chesapeake Legal Alliance, a nonprofit I founded 13 years ago that provides free legal services to organizations working to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. I am also serving on three other boards and trying to figure out what the rest of retirement looks like. We enjoy service, sailing, and our four grandchildren.”

Gary and Joyce Owens are retired in Myrtle Beach, SC. Gary volunteers for a local food pantry. Jean Williams Peters writes from Evanston, IL, “My granddaughter Nina Pofcher ’24 is a sophomore in the College of Human Ecology. I have a new dog—now ten months old—and our daily walks cause me to chat with lots of neighbors. I’m still in my house.”

I have a new dog—now ten months old—and our daily walks cause me to chat with lots of neighbors.
Jean Williams Peters ’63

Susan Waldo Baker is “meeting new people in the main building in Applewood Retirement Community in Freehold, NJ. My husband, Frank (Villanova ’55), and I moved to a cottage here in February 2020. Frank died several months later. My adult children and I are going on a Viking cruise in November of this year from Basel to Amsterdam.” When asked what’s something you’re doing now that you never imagined, she answered: “Living alone!”

John and Sandra Luburg Beeman are kept busy in Naples, FL, “playing bridge, playing golf, attending theater and church, traveling, and spending time with children and grandchildren. We moved from a house to a condo recently.” Darrow and Barbara Strain live in Locust Grove, VA.

Martin, DVM ’66, and Debra Kirschner Wolf ’66 live in West Palm Beach, FL. Marty wrote: “I’m in a wheelchair—fell, broke bones in my leg, and fractured my pelvis in two places. We have six grandkids; Kyle Wolf ’25 is a freshman at Cornell. My daughter and family visit often. I do mosaic art, which I have exhibited.”

Barbara Hartung Wade, MEd ’64, “was called out of retirement to teach two Spanish classes every day till the end of the year. There is a shortage of Spanish teachers. I also have been tutoring privately for an agency. I am dating a gentleman widower from my golf club. We’ve known each other for many years and have many mutual friends. I spend time with my family, traveling, playing golf, reading, and enjoying my home.”

Warren Icke ’62 and I had dinner recently with Neil Kochenour, MD ’69, and Jim, MD ’69, and Christine Newton Dauber. Jim and Chris divide their time between Tucson and Portland, OR. This summer they are spending more time in Tucson since they are selling their home there and moving into an independent living facility. They continue to ride their tandem bike to keep active. Neil is hoping to move into a retirement community in Green Valley soon. This summer he expects to spend time in Big Sky, MT. It’s fun to have fellow classmates here in Tucson, even though we don’t see each other a lot.

Warren and I went to Ithaca for Warren’s 60th Reunion. He says some 67 classmates returned. Let’s hope we as the Class of 1963 can do better than that! Please email me with news whenever you like. ❖ Nancy Bierds Icke (email Nancy). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1964

Many thanks to all 24 of you who sent news in response to our annual class newsletter! We encourage more of you to share your news and thoughts. This column will start with those of you who have been absent from here the longest.

Stanley Schlozman has never been in this column; he shares that he’s still living in Boston. Burns Roensch, not here in 35 years, is still living in Sterrett, AL, which is near Birmingham. He writes, “I am the angel investor in CerFlux Inc., a new lab whose mission is to eliminate, or greatly reduce, the 70% failure rate of initial treatments for solid state cancers. Our goal is to match treatments to causes. Trials on human tissues have been held and, if successful, will be ready for patients and the pharma industry in 2023.” Burns writes of touring Egypt and Jordan last year, and Africa, Germany, and Prague this year.

John Levy is likewise making his first appearance here since 1987. He writes, “I’m still working part time as an expert witness in patent litigations related to computers and software. I’m also writing a book for young people on computer hardware.” John is a volunteer mediator in his Inverness, CA, community (on what topics he doesn’t say) and the host for a classical music show on a local community radio station. Todd Clist, last here in 1994, still lives on South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island but otherwise shared no news.

John Looney, here for the first time since 1996, lives with wife Susan in Franklin, TN, and writes, “I am slowly retiring from my faculty positions at Duke Medical School. I have been an emeritus professor for more than ten years but still work full time. For a while, I was on the Cornell Alumni Board.” John also notes he raises beef cattle on their farm and restores vintage automobiles, two seemingly divergent interests. He also makes rounds with his two physician sons and notes of this, “Patients seem to enjoy the ‘old doctor’ being along. Susan and I spend more time at our farm.”

My dice game, Q-Less Game, is a hit on TikTok with over 100,000 followers and a million likes.
Tom Sturdevant ’64

John Brimmer, last here in 1998, writes that he and wife Elaine live in New Bern, NC, during the winter months, then shift to North Kingstown, RI, for May through September. He notes, “I am failing to defeat old age, to which my golf scores attest!” The Brimmers’ recent travels have been to Ocean City, MD, Wisconsin for a wedding, and Waynesboro, VA.

George Johnson, here for the first time in 22 years, still lives in Chevy Chase, MD, with wife Ayah. George notes he’s retired from his law firm, but is now a senior editor and columnist for Moment Magazine, which covers Jewish politics, religion, and culture. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Haberman Institute for Jewish Studies. He writes, “My son Ari and his wife, Jessica, were recently awarded the Charles Bronfman Prize for their work with Muso, a global health organization in Mali and Ivory Coast, which they founded in 2005. The prize recognizes young humanitarians whose work is grounded in their Jewish values and is of universal benefit to all people.”

John “Jack” McNeill and his wife, Marcela, still live in Hudson, OH. He was last here just 14 years ago, but catches us up: “We continue to winter in Estero, FL, enjoying the long friendships of numerous northern neighbors. Cornell contacts are very few but very meaningful with Mike and Nancy Strick, MBA ’66, and Dick Heinzelman.” Jack adds, “We are heading to my wife’s turf, Mexico, for our first post-COVID visit for a wedding and many chances to polish my Spanish with family and amigos.” He said: “All three kids and their families are in San Diego and the Bay Area.”

Tom Sturdevant, last here in 2009, writes, “My dice game, Q-Less Game, is a hit on TikTok with over 100,000 followers and a million likes. Our website is: Q-Lessgame.com.” Tom adds, “I’m still making music—playing and writing every day.”

That’s all for now. I could always use more of your news, so please 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. Share your news here.

1965

Steve Appell reports that on June 17, he proudly watched his talented and vivacious 9-year-old granddaughter Harper perform in an abridged version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The play was presented at the Hoboken (NJ) Children’s Theater. Harper was impressive in the role of reporter Phineous Trout, and as a singer and dancer in a company of Oompa Loompas.

Elaine Sarkin Jaffe, MD ’69, has some good news to share! “It has been an eventful year in my career at the NIH. This spring I was recognized with three awards: the Gold Headed Cane Award from the American Society for Investigative Pathology; the Inaugural American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) James S. Ewing-Thelma B. Dunn Award for Outstanding Achievement in Pathology in Cancer Research; and most recently the Career Achievement Award from the Department of Health and Human Services. The award from the AACR was especially sweet because it was named after Thelma Brumfield Dunn 1922, who received her undergraduate degree from Cornell. Born in rural Virginia in 1900, she went on to get her medical degree at UVA. Like me, she spent her career at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and was the first woman elected president of AACR. She was a pathologist in my department and a pioneer in the field of carcinogenesis in mice. I am still enjoying my work at the NCI and continue to study lymphoma and other hematopoietic tumors.” Congratulations, Elaine!

Mark Coan describes something he’s doing now that he never imagined: “Having lost my wife of 50 years to a brain tumor, I have repurposed and blended with an old friend into a new family, partnership, and marriage.” In 2008 he retired and enjoys travel with outdoor experiences and adventure, exercise, and volunteer activities as an engineer/physician. Active parenting and keeping up with friends hold an important place in his life. He comments, “Anything, but not quite everything, that we want is happening in our life: travel coast to coast and abroad, and mixing and mingling with children and grandchildren from our blended families.” Every sunrise and every sunset brings him the most satisfaction today and every day! His new hobbies include introspection and retrospection.

Jeff Dubin reports that although his wife, Jen, and he did not push Cornell, they now happily share that their oldest grandson, Jake Ludgin ’26, son of Jennifer Dubin Ludgin ’95 and nephew of Danielle Dubin ’97, was accepted early to the Engineering college.

Despite temperatures in the 20s and 30s and wind, we had a great time hiking to waterfalls, snowmobiling on a glacier, and catching sight of the Northern Lights.
Liz Gordon ’65

In her commentary about travel, Liz Gordon raves about Iceland. “After two and a half years-plus of not traveling (our last planned trip with Cornell to China in April of 2020 didn’t happen), Neil and I and five of our friends spent 10 days in Iceland this past April. Despite temperatures in the 20s and 30s and wind, we had a great time hiking to waterfalls, snowmobiling on a glacier, catching sight of the Northern Lights, and eating delicious soup, bread, lamb, and Arctic char.”

I echo her enthusiasm. Our family trip to Iceland four years ago was super! Outstanding experiences included an educational puffin cruise, walking under waterfalls, and forging our way through an ice cave. We endured temperatures in the low 40s at the end of June!

Jamil Sopher, ME ’66, sends “un grand bonjour de Paris.” In June he wrote, “I am thrilled to be back in my hood after being away for nearly three years.” He hopes to play pétanque in Les Arènes de Lutèce, a Roman amphitheater that is a major center for Paris-based pétanque tournaments. Also on the agenda: Jamil and his wife, Lynn, will attend the 80th birthday celebration of his friend Jean-Yves during their stay in the City of Lights. When Jamil was at Harvard Business School 55 years ago, he shared an apartment with Jean-Yves, a French MIT student. “A very strong friendship developed and grew over the years; our wives liked each other and then our children bonded. I credit him for getting me involved in cybersecurity, my passion at the moment.” Radiating happiness, Jamil and Lynn announce that their grandson Dune Sassoon Sopher, who was born last September, is now pulling himself up to stand.

Steve Appell and I encourage you to check out the rest of Cornellians; you can click that link to get to the homepage! Cornellians is a digital-first publication that celebrates Cornell University and its alumni through stories, images, Class Notes columns, and more. Those of you reading this column are aware of all the wonderful content online. Please encourage your friends to enjoy it as well. I have heard that many of our classmates are not clicking into this site or our Class of ’65 website—where you can find overall class news and details on the planning underway for our 60th Reunion in 2025. Thanks to Steve Hand for his management of our class website! Steve Appell and I are eager for all your news. ❖ Joan Hens Johnson (email Joan); Stephen Appell (email Stephen). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1966

Our classmates continue to be active, whether retired or still working. John Deasy, MPS ’72 (Doylestown, PA) spends his time helping veterans through activities in the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. In his leisure time, he enjoys flying his 1951 Beechcraft Bonanza, Far Above, and showing off her new paint job, which he observes cost more than he paid for the plane in 1977. John is also enjoying summers at his camp in the Adirondacks.

Nancy Heiser Reinstein is retired from a varied career. She worked as a registered dietitian for 16 years at Atascadero State Hospital; spent years teaching at Cal Poly State University; taught preschool, kindergarten, and high school; and worked as a dietitian. Personal activities include practicing and teaching Qi Gong, using essential oils, and practicing biofeedback. And she swims two hours, three times a week. Her daughter Ellen is a special needs trust lawyer; Ellen and husband Scott have two sons, Caleb and Isaac, whom Nancy visits monthly.

Scott Orton lives in Marietta, GA. Paul Weinberg is a director of Better Health Corp., a startup with a patent pending to address symptoms of long COVID. He says it is truly exciting to work on a project that will benefit humanity.

Kathleen Earle Fox has written a book, An Early History of the Wyoming Valley: The Yankee-Pennamite Wars & Timothy Pickering, which follows the Connecticut settlers of the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania to Upstate New York, including her grandfather Irving Van Earle 1905. He, Kathleen, and her sons, Seann Colgan ’91 and Thomas Fabisiak ’03, are all Cornellians. The book, covering approximately 1754 to 1789, includes much about the Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois, as well as historical events such as the Battle of Wyoming (also known as the Wyoming Massacre) and Sullivan’s March. Kathleen is doing presentations to historical societies in Geneva, Canandaigua, Penn Yan, and Elmira—and also in Pennsylvania—and hopes to do one in Ithaca as she has family ties there.

In his leisure time, John Deasy ’66, MPS ’72, enjoys flying his 1951 Beechcraft Bonanza, Far Above.

Nathan Wong retired from the Hawaiian National Guard, Kaiser Permanente, and Kamehameha Schools. He is as busy as ever, but does miss his wife and life partner, Sandee, who passed away in 2021. Current activities center on his church and native Hawaiian health. Nathan currently enjoys Tai Chi and golf, hoping the former will help him shoot his age and stay under it before the 70th Reunion! He never imagined he would have done multiple voyages on a Polynesian sailing canoe, Hokule’a, between 1980 and 2015. His most recent travel was to Hokkaido, Japan, in 2018. Nathan plans to go to Amsterdam and Brussels next year. He stays involved with his large extended Hawaiian family, which is finally able to gather fully. He also regularly babysits!

Norman Meyer retired in 2021. He organizes the annual Fourth of July festival for the Lions Club and Masons in Sebastian, FL. He is a Masonic past master and is now secretary. For leisure activity, he is trying to learn to catch fish! He informed us of the passing of Elaine Stokes, wife of Norman Stokes.

Michael Chiu is still fully engaged in business in California, Nevada, Idaho, and Bali, Indonesia. He is active in the Cornell Hotel Society and somewhat active as a trustee emeritus and presidential councilor. He enjoys tennis and his travels to Europe and Asia-Pacific countries for business. Recent travel was to Southern France, Milan, and Rome for the European regional Cornell Hotel Society conference. He also enjoys getting together with extended family.

Nicholas Mallios has retired. In 1966, he never imagined he would someday be old and achy! Tom Allen retired in 2005 from Raytheon, where he did air traffic control system design. He now does bicycling and leads regular rides for his local community education program. He never imagined he’d be living in a lakefront house with the co-ed he met in class, Carole (Newman) ’67!

We received sad news that Larry Eisen, ME ’67, passed on May 29. For many years, Larry was part of the class leadership team. His graphic design company designed our class “Walking Bear” logo to celebrate our 20th Reunion. AEPi fraternity brother Bruce Bergman noted, “Larry always had a ready smile and was fun and a fixture of our pledge class, our four years, and the Reunions shared.” He brought to Boynton Beach, FL, his love of music and opera, and support of his Temple. Larry served on the Northern New Jersey boards of the Jewish Federation and Jewish Family and Children Services for more than 40 years. He is survived by his wife, Marsha (Beirach) ’67, children Susanne Brown and Andrew Eisen ’94, and four grandchildren.

A note from Alice Katz Berglas: “I write in mid-June and am smiling as I read this warm column with new ’66 news that Susan Rockford Bittker has just sent me. An added grin at seeing the note from Tom Allen. I have just returned from campus—a quick few days before Reunion weekend’s hectic hoopla (an on-campus celebration for the first time since COVID). On Friday, just before I hopped in the car home, and before masses of alumni would soon arrive, I stopped at the Campus Store for a new, ‘not-needed-but-necessary’ souvenir. As I rounded the stairs, who but Tom and his wife, Carole, were exactly in front of me (having a ‘need’ of souvenirs as well …)? According to pre-registration attendance lists, only two ’66 classmates had registered for Reunion 2022. Why am I not surprised that we found one another? The Class of 1966 always finds ways to gather. Wonderful! Let’s always do that—this fall and on—Hidden Jewels and more, virtual and in person (the best!). Join us this year in whatever we all dream up. If you haven’t yet paid 2022 class dues, you can do so here. Together, our dues make everything ’66 happen. Thank you each. Wishing a great and healthy fall to all!” ❖ Susan Rockford Bittker (email Susan); Pete Salinger (email Pete). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1967

Kenneth Bahm (Eastport, ME) “did some healthcare-related consulting and worked as a barista at Starbucks (my dream job!).” He and spouse David Brass have been “taking a couple mile walks daily with our 2.5-year-old pup (Lab/shepherd mix).” Kenneth also enjoys “doing home improvement and DIY jobs around the house and reading novels and magical fantasy sci-fi mysteries.”

Ann Savishinsky Epstein (Ann Arbor, MI) reports: “I write fiction full time—my fifth novel, One Person’s Loss, is being published this September. Check out my other books and short stories on my website.”

John Eisenhart (Oregon, OH) volunteers at a science center and makes lunches for kids during his retirement. He has traveled to Alaska for 37 years to go fishing and gets satisfaction from supporting his community.

Thomas Valachovic (Sebastian, FL) reports “breathing” as something he’s doing now that he never imagined, and in retirement is “relaxing and enjoying my matchbook cover collecting hobby—I have about 400,000 in my collection.” He and wife Donna “have two sons who are 55 and 56 and eight grandchildren, and all are doing quite well. Thankfully I am enjoying good health and a happy and successful family. I’m a recycle maniac.”

David Campbell (San Diego, CA) writes: “I retired from my ophthalmology practice in April 2021. I’ve returned from Scotland having spent two weeks there hiking with friends, including John “Jay” Green Jr. We were in the Highlands near Skye and the Shetland Islands. I became a grandpa for the first time in August 2021!” Most satisfaction: “Being of sound mind and body!”

Carol Terry Gips (Mashpee, MA), with husband Ned Hitchcock, is “living in a large, gated condo community! But I’m not using the golf course and don’t plan to. I am continuing to work as a fine artist, exhibiting my work. I also volunteer with arts organizations and conservation and ecological groups. I’ve been working with my mother’s family archives, the Peško family from Slovakia.” Carol enjoys “making art, reading, and seeing old and new friends.”

I’m enjoying my matchbook cover collecting hobby—I have about 400,000.
Thomas Valachovic ’67

Ruth Dritch Salinger (Bethesda, MD) tries “new recipes, not because of more time but just for variety, and because so many are available online (e.g., Washington Post Eat Voraciously and New York Times Cooking). “I arrange for donations of ostomy supplies to those in need worldwide and am spending more time with the volunteer group Friends of Ostomates Worldwide-USA.” Ruth also enjoys “neighborhood walks (four-plus miles) and is back to seeing friends and long-distance travel again.”

William Doody, MBA ’71 (Wilmot, NH) is “enjoying life and retirement in New Hampshire. I am treasurer of my church and an ecumenical nonprofit, trustee of trust funds for the Town of Wilmot, and chair, Wilmot Capital Improvement Program Subcommittee.” He, wife Margaret, daughter Emma Doody Stetson ’09, and her husband, Chris, enjoy New Hampshire life as well as “relatively good health and friends and family.”

Steve and Karen Kaufman Polansky (Carmichael, CA) traveled across the country for our 55th Reunion. “Steve has taken up golf after retirement,” Karen writes, and she is volunteering. Most satisfaction comes from “kids and grandkids.”

Barbara Smith MacGillivray (Laguna Beach, CA) continues to make IMAX films, engages in community involvement, and is working with conservation organizations. She didn’t imagine the day she’d be “playing with grandchildren,” and adds that she’s “finally traveling again” and has taken up “mountain biking on e-bikes as well as muscle bikes.” Most satisfaction: “Preserving the environment and exercise.”

David DeBell (Surprise, AZ) never imagined he’d be “living in the desert,” where he’s “rescuing pets (dogs/cats), swimming a lot, and enjoying the sunshine. Everything is good—two grandchildren attending Grand Canyon University in the Phoenix area.” Most satisfaction: “Being in good health, enjoying life with spouse Becky, and good friends.”

Eighty-five of us made it to the 55th Reunion in June. Those who missed it also missed the best weather we’ve ever had for a Reunion. This year there were a considerable number of exhibits at the Johnson Museum of Art, the libraries, and elsewhere, while a large crowd in Schoellkopf heard Bill Nye ’77 the “Science Guy” give an exciting talk that combined gibes at engineers (he was one), current ecological concerns, and stand-up comedy. The class enjoyed dining in two sites that didn’t exist when we were on the Hill: the Klarman Hall addition to Goldwin Smith and the renovated terrace at Martha Van. Alice Cook House was the scene for the best part of Reunion: meeting up, sitting down with—and, yes, having a drink with—classmates who were close friends and ones you’d never met before. ❖ Richard Hoffman (email Richard), 2925 28th St. NW, Washington DC 20008. Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1968

Chris Hoeber, MS ’70, and his wife, Mary, live in Los Altos, CA. Despite his retirement in 2015, Chris is working practically full time for Maxar, which many of you may recognize, as they have been providing pictures of the carnage in Ukraine from space. Recently, Chris has been thinking about his first trip to Russia in 1992, when he crossed the Neva River in St. Petersburg and joined in a May 9 Victory Day fireworks celebration with many locals and tourists. Russia was a mess then, though Chris naively thought they had an opportunity for a great future. He also visited Ukraine two years later when he made many Ukrainian and Russian friends while establishing a joint venture that has survived for 30 years.

Today, among his many hobbies, Chris is taking a continuing ed class at Stanford. He was very proud of the A he received from the chairman emeritus of the Classics department on his term paper concerning the role of the gods in The Iliad. He feels the achievement illustrates his own growth over his lifetime—and notes that it would never have happened when he was on campus with us.

John Grocki lives on Hilton Head Island, SC. John’s satisfaction these days comes from watching the sunset nightly at the beach or from the woods. While John gets contentment from puttering around the house, he still does consulting work part time. He’s also a fan of Nerf shooting, both to keep up with his grandchildren and to keep squirrels off his bird feeders. Steve Levine and his wife, Joan, live in Holyoke, MA, where their four grandchildren keep them busy—though he finds time for delivering Meals on Wheels to the elderly.

John Grocki ’68 is a fan of Nerf shooting, both to keep up with his grandchildren and to keep squirrels off his bird feeders.

Donald Hearn and wife Dorothy live in West Harwich, MA, and, like many of our classmates, have built a house in Florida. Whether up north or in Florida, Don enjoys golf, tennis, or just taking a walk with Dorothy. When he slows down, he enjoys reading spy novels. Robert Cane lives in St. Augustine, FL, where most of his time is spent taking care of his disabled wife and maintaining his house and property.

Kathryn Miesner Carlson lives in Skaneateles, NY. For the past 15 years she has been spending the summertime in a cabin she owns in Alaska. Much of her time is spent serving on the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES Board, the Central New York School Boards Association board of directors, and the local library board. Her three grandchildren are out of school and gainfully employed. She gets great satisfaction from walking 10K steps daily with her little doggie as her companion, and she has restarted painting watercolors and restoring old frames for her new and old paintings. Jane Seyler lives in Lexington, KY, where dancing has kept her busy five days a week since she retired five years ago after practicing pediatrics for 40 years.

Paul Ericson lives in Carbondale, CO, near his workplace in Snowmass, CO, where he has taught skiing for the past 15 years. Paul has instructed many fascinating people from around the world along with many Cornellians including Jeff Gettleman ’94. He also gets to spend a great deal of time with his five grandchildren who live nearby. During July and August he lives on Norway Island in Tupper Lake, NY.

Great to hear from so many of our classmates! ❖ Chuck Levitan (email Chuck). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1969

Guest columnist Jon Kaplan, MD ’74, here. I last contributed to the March / April 2022 Class Notes. I won’t bother to reintroduce myself; please see what I wrote in the March / April column!

I have enjoyed monthly Zoom calls with the class leadership, organized by class co-presidents Greg Baum and Robert Tallo and IT/Zoom wizard John Wilkens, ME ’71. It is great to continue relationships that emanated from our last Reunion (few of us actually knew one another when we were at Cornell), and it is also exciting to see enthusiasm building for our next Reunion, which is only two years away!

Many classmates have submitted “Share Your News” forms. Common themes are: 1) continued enthusiasm about work, for those who are still so engaged; 2) exciting retirement activities; and 3) news about children and grandchildren, including many who have gone to Cornell!

Samuel and wife Ann Goldsholl Varsano live in Marco Island, FL. Sam says that Ann loves to cook and create inspiring meals for people who live alone or are recovering from recent hospitalizations (I would love to be on the receiving end of one of her meals!). Sam has been mentoring a high school student on Marco Island. Son Josh ’94 and wife Karen Ellis Varsano ’94 live in Westport, CT; their daughter Logan ’23 is a senior at Cornell. Sam and Ann’s younger son, Doug ’98, is an entrepreneur living in Chandler, AZ.

Dick Erali writes that he and his wife sold Second Wind Organic Farm on Rt. 89 in Trumansburg three years ago, moved to Winston-Salem, NC, and are quite happy there—a lot of time for gardening! Dick misses contact with the Cornell Glee Club, the Ithaca Yacht Club, and sailing. He is looking forward to our 55th!

Stewart and Sue Golden Cramer ’71 live in Pittsford, NY. Stewart retired in 2013 but continues to do research on the pathology found in “benign” hysterectomies, especially myometrial hyperplasia (a little more than I understand, and I’m a medical type!). On the side, he and sisters Cathy Cramer Bertram ’77 and Carol Sue Cramer Strusz ’72 are working on the fourth in a series of family albums on Irving Cramer ’37, who went to Cornell in the 1930s. Stewart, Carol, Cathy, and their late brother, Ken ’74, MPS ’75, all went to Cornell. Stewart and Sue have a daughter who is writing a book on ecological gardening at Cornell. Stewart says he is still playing bridge and is now a Gold Life Master.

Mike Hogan ’69 walks daily—and logged 5 million steps in 2020.

After a career managing state mental health systems in Connecticut, Ohio, and New York, and a stint as a consultant, Mike Hogan (Delmar, NY) continues to work as a court monitor, reviewing progress in the State of Mississippi’s mental health system. He walks daily—and logged 5 million steps in 2020. He says he has eased up a bit since then!

Lee Pillsbury (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) is still working! He and wife Mary are active in venture capital in the travel industry and in large real estate development projects. They both fly and have a new TBM 940 high-speed turboprop. (This writer is not well-versed in aviation, but it sounds like this plane goes fast; we hope Lee and Mary are flying safely and accumulating frequent flyer miles!) They have seven (yes, 7!) nieces and nephews who have gone to Cornell; the latest is a sophomore in A&S. In other words, they have their own Cornell reunions!

Bonnie Carroll (Knoxville, TN) is retired and is doing professional pro bono work at the National Academy of Sciences for the U.S. Committee on Data. She and husband Roy Cooper (married for 41 years) are headed to Antarctica in January 2023, after having their 2022 trip canceled because of COVID. (We hope they make it to the icy continent this time!) Bonnie notes that they acquired a COVID puppy, Petey, the latest in their collection of foster dogs.

Ildiko Czmor Mitchell (Johnson City, NY) says she is way busier than when she was working! She is still hiking the Appalachian Trail (working on the Maryland portion now). She welcomes Cornellians (or others) who are interested in jockeying her car around to trailheads! She is involved in many activities with her grandchildren and would like to introduce them to hiking. She is looking forward to a “bang-up” 75th birthday party in July.

Peter Titus, BS ’71 (Princeton, NJ) is still working at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory as the analysis branch head. He spends his spare time with three grandchildren, a summer home, two old cars, and one boat!

Please send news about yourself and your families via the Cornellians online news form. ❖ Jon Kaplan (email Jon). Alumni Directory.

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Classes of the 1970s

1970

About two weeks after I submitted my last column, I received in the mail our annual dues letter from our class president, Sally Anne Levine, JD ’73. Although that will be months ago when you read this, it is still important. Yes, pay your dues (note that they are significantly less as there is no longer a Cornell Alumni Magazine subscription). And also note that we have two continuing projects, the Class of 1970 Scholarship Fund and our Class of 1970 Spirit Fund, both of which support current students and campus life. If you can’t find the letter you received, go here to pay online or call (607) 255-3021.

Of course, also included in the mailing is a form for Class Notes, which will eventually make its way to me, and then into this column. Since I have been class correspondent, for almost two years now, roughly 60 of you have sent always interesting notes about where you are, what you are doing, how the pandemic has affected your lives, etc. And there are roughly 2,400 individuals listed as members of the Class of 1970. So I would love to see a deluge of notes!

As I write this, I am recovering from a 710-mile road journey back from Ithaca. Yes, there was a Reunion last weekend! Your correspondent has belonged to the Continuous Reunion Club (CRC) for several years, so there is a group to be with. In addition, there was a large joint dinner on Saturday, hosted by the Class of 1971 (who also missed their 50th) and including Class of 1970 people as well. In attendance were Sally Anne Levine, Cathy Hogan, Kathy Cornell, Steve Ludsin, Don Noveau, Andrea Strongwater, and myself. Others may have been in attendance, although I didn’t write down names. Apologies to anyone I may have overlooked. Although overall attendance was down a bit, there was much to see and do, as always. Some of the larger events, like Cornelliana Night and an appearance by Bill Nye ’77 (the “Science Guy”) were moved to Schoellkopf for safety. And, of course, it was just fun to be there and meet old and new friends. Our 55th is now less than three years away!

Nick Cooper (Draper, UT) is a senior project manager for the Southern California water group of AECOM, a company with which he has worked for 28 years. He still oversees design and construction projects for water and wastewater treatment projects in North America and internationally, and states that he’s still going strong as his peers are retiring. He currently “commutes” to California by air one week a month, yet will be traveling more as projects move into construction. He finds his work rewarding and challenging. Most of their clients, municipal water departments, are staffed with very young engineers whose senior supervisors have retired. So Nick is teaching them management of projects and situations. He adds that family members are moving from California and New York to be close to him and his wife, Deborah.

Susan Thistle ’70 found herself completing a book begun by her mother about her own dementia, titled The Memory of All That.

Fenton Sands (Washington, DC) retired from USAID after 26 years, while remaining active doing occasional economic development and advisory services with missions, mainly in Africa. A frequent activity now is mentoring and guiding family, including two sons and grandchildren. In addition, dealing with the passing of his mother and taking over executorship of parental trusts has been a task for his sisters and himself. Also, he has begun to spend time on his parents’ legacy, especially that of his father, who was an international agricultural expert and a Tuskegee Airman. Fenton wrote and published a book about his father’s life and is now focusing on documenting his parents’ lives and experiences utilizing the many memorabilia, letters, pictures, and records they left after decades of living and working overseas. This will also touch on the life he and his sisters led as a result of growing up in a rather unique way.

In addition to Fenton, several classmates have become authors, writing about a broad range of subjects. Candace O’Connor (Johnsburg, NY/St. Louis, MO) authored a book recently published by the University of Missouri Press titled Climbing the Ladder, Chasing the Dream. The subject is the Homer G. Phillips Hospital, built in 1937 to service the rapidly expanding African American population of St. Louis, and eventually closed in 1979. Not just a history of an institution, it draws on many sources and raises the issue of the mysterious unsolved murder of the hospital’s namesake, a pioneering Black attorney and civil rights activist who raised the money to build the hospital.

Another class author is Susan Thistle, who found herself completing a book begun by her mother, Mary MacCracken, about her own dementia, titled The Memory of All That. Her mother, while writing about dementia, began to decline cognitively, raising challenges such as the pages and pages that accumulated as she received comments from her writing group.

Lastly, career writer Ed Zuckerman (New York, NY/Manhattan Beach, CA) has written his first novel, a thriller involving finance titled Wealth Management, due out in September. In other news, his TV career has wound down after 30 years. There have been some health issues, but both his new knees are doing fine. Ed and his wife are temporarily sharing their New York apartment with their oldest daughter and her Russian husband. They were happily living in St. Petersburg (Russia) until Putin launched his war, and it seemed like a good idea for them to move to the U.S.

The Class Notes section of Cornellians continues as one of the most popular destinations! So keep sending your notes! For your own news, you may contact me directly, or you may use the University’s standard online news form. ❖ John Cecilia (email John); tel., (312) 524-2912. Alumni Directory.

1971

Some 71 of us gathered for our semi-sanctioned 50+1 Reunion. (Having not taken math since 11th grade, don’t hold me to the exact number.) Rest assured, we had a blast: 50 or so classmates, spouses, friends, and other Cornellians joined our well-planned, enjoyable class activities and went to campus for lectures, concerts, tent parties, hikes, museums, etc.

We all looked great, unchanged by the half-century since graduation. You’d have recognized your freshman corridormates, Greek pals, Collegetown neighbors, choristers, clubsters, etc. Neither what we looked like nor what we spoke about is what persuaded me about the passage of time. However, as I walked east across the Arts Quad gazing toward Sibley’s dome, I thought about the majestic elms that shaded us more than a half-century ago. I remembered how they could not be saved from Dutch elm disease and were cut down. The baby trees planted in their place looked very puny for years. Looking northward in 2022, what I saw was majestic shade restored—no sign of the sickened elms or the saplings. That’s what persuaded me about the passage of time since undergrad days.

Look for what you enjoyed (or missed) at this link. Class officers scheduled an official picture outdoors at Moakley House, where we had one of our splendid dinners at the edge of Cornell’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Course.

Thanks to those who’ve kept the mailbag full. We got news that peripatetic par excellence Sally Clark Shumaker has decamped Cuenca, Ecuador, to re-nest in Lompoc, CA. Lompoc is about the population size of Binghamton, NY, her original home, but Sally says her new home has a fabulous scenic location next to the Pacific Ocean and is quiet and rural, boasting a migratory spot for millions of birds. The Mediterranean climate is quite like what she enjoyed in the last several years in South America. She adds, “Come visit! I’ll show you a good time.” Coincidentally comes a report from Ed and Ann Thompson. They just moved to Port Townsend, WA, where Sally lived not all that long ago. You can see Ed’s work here. They are now closer to their kids in Oregon and Montana, including Ethan Pacific Thompson, who just turned 1.

Author Ken Margolies, MPS ’11, finished his book while recuperating from a kidney transplant. He’s doing well. Managing with Labor’s Values: Manage Staff Without Being Like the Bosses Unions Fight is a guide for managers and supervisors within labor unions and others who want to manage positively. Ken and his wife, Robin Dintiman, are loving life—dog, garden, and California weather.

Forty-four years after getting his BA in Art History, Victor Curran ’71, BA ’73, got his first museum job!

Forty-four years after getting his BA in Art History, Victor Curran, BA ’73, got his first museum job! He guides part time at the Concord (MA) Museum and at the Old Manse, a historic house. He writes and leads walking tours for the town Visitor Center, teaches community education courses, and publishes articles in a local magazine. After his long marriage ended, he married again. Dianne Weiss is a volunteer at their church. They’re having loads of fun with four grandchildren—two his, two Dianne’s. Not far away, Susan and Thomas Nally are in Brookline. He serves as senior advisor at A Better City and finds it much harder than he’d imagined, getting people to understand and agree with complex ideas. “Logic and good ideas don’t always succeed.”

On a sad note, I want to be sure we take time to remember our fondness and respect for a former class correspondent, Marsha Ackermann, who succumbed to Alzheimer’s. Her husband, Thomas K. Black III, shared memories of reuning with us and his pride in her many accomplishments. She represented Western New York State in the 36th National Spelling Bee (1963), finished second in the NYS Regents Exam, and was valedictorian of her Amherst, NY, high school before joining us at Cornell. There, she wrote for the Sun, graduated a College Scholar, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. And after reporting stints with the Buffalo Courier Express, she was a Congressional Fellow before working for Geraldine Ferraro through her 1984 run for VPOTUS. After one more stop in the private sector (PR for IBM), off she went to Ann Arbor for a PhD. There, she met Tom. She continued teaching at several Michigan universities. Her PhD thesis became Cold Comfort: America’s Romance with Air-Conditioning (2002), her first book. I recommend it and How do you Spell Ruzevelt? A History of Spelling in America (2014). She is survived by Tom and her stepchildren.

If you couldn’t join in the 50+1, we did miss you. Do try to come for our 55th. In the meanwhile, remember that the ’71 History Project aims to be completed for it. Watch for ways to Zoom together on topics. Submit audio/videotapes, pictures, and memorabilia by email here. Class historian Naomi Katz Mintz and committee members Katherine Menton Flaxman, Arthur Mintz, Craig Ewing, MBA ’72, and Dale Cohen want to hear from you! ❖ Elisabeth Kaplan Boas (email Elisabeth); Cara Nash Iason (email Cara). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1972

I hope that everyone who attended our big 50th Reunion had a great time. Unfortunately, leg problems prevented me from making the long flight from California to Ithaca, so I missed all the fun. I’m told that Reunion chair Dierdre Courtney-Batson, MA ’75, did an outstanding job organizing this event. I’m hoping I will be healthy for our next Reunion in 2027. Perhaps by then the technology will have advanced and I can avoid the planes and just “beam” to Ithaca.

How many of you watched the NFL draft this spring? I checked in occasionally and managed to see Ed Marinaro walk to the podium to announce a draft pick for the Minnesota Vikings, one of the NFL teams for which he played. Ed got up there and started telling stories about his career with the Vikings. This did not please the NFL brass, so eventually they sent a young woman onto the stage to gently tell him to end his monologue and announce the name of the draft pick. It reminded me of the Oscars, when one of the winners keeps talking beyond the allotted time. Ed got the hint, made the announcement, and left the stage like the veteran actor he is. The audience did not seem to mind.

Martin Powell writes from Pittsburgh, PA, where he lives with wife Deborah. He continues his practice of architecture at the Design Alliance Architects. He finds satisfaction from reading the biographies and memoirs of the first and second generation of modern architects, including those who were in the shadows of the famous. Richard Cole proudly announces that he is the father of a Cornell freshman in Arts & Sciences. Now that he is retired, Richard enjoys reading and playing woodwinds. He enjoyed practicing law, doing radio commentary, and playing in jazz big bands.

Margaret McEachron Southerland resides in Salem, NY, with husband Rob, where they own and manage a 300-acre family farm. Meg continues to be very involved with their specialty crop farm, with its destination marketplace and summertime café. Their son, who is a family physician, returned to the farm with his wife and three children to be the next generation there. Time with family and friends and investing time and energy in the community gives Meg the most satisfaction these days. Travel is of great interest to her as we move beyond COVID.

Margaret McEachron Southerland ’72 and husband Rob own and manage a 300-acre family farm.

Marilyn Rocco Mandigo is married to Daniel ’71. The couple lives in Sandy Creek, NY, and part time in Florida and enjoy traveling the world. Since her retirement, Marilyn enjoys gardening, golfing, reading, playing the piano, volunteering, Bible study, and kayaking (a new hobby). Her youngest, daughter Danielle ’05, married to a Marine major, had twins, and moved to South Korea for two years. Marilyn gets satisfaction from her family, especially the grandchildren.

Bill Bolak, BA ’71, and wife Diane send us news from Las Cruces, NM. Bill uses the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Merlin Bird ID app to identify local birds. He has been catching up on hobbies, music, and astrophotography. Bill gets the most satisfaction these days from stargazing and walking in the desert. David Crockett of Stevensville, MD, is in the farrier business. He enjoys traveling with wife Pat to national parks in the U.S. David gets satisfaction enjoying nature, horseback riding, and going out with his wife and friends.

Bob Tausek was not able to attend our 50th Reunion this year. I’m sure his bubbly personality and sense of humor were solely missed by the attendees. Bob and wife Marjorie enjoy the good life near Charleston, SC, including playing with their twin grandsons. He is now taking Tai Chi and enjoys waking up in the morning and not having to go to work. Bob says he likes to stay in touch with his Alpha Chi Rho bothers by the magic of email, when he is not doing odd jobs around the house.

Mary Szczepanski communicates from Juneau, AK, where she has been living for the past 29 years, enjoying the amazing wildlife, mountains, water, and hiking. She still works some as a holistic nurse in private practice and is also doing “healing touch” at the local hospital in Juneau. Mary published three books several years ago. Two of them, Strands and A Path of Healing, are fiction about energy healing. The third is nonfiction, Energy Healing: Reflections on a Journey. She gets satisfaction from teaching classes and leading groups on Zoom. Her favorite is a Zoom book group on ending racism.

Philip Dixon, JD ’80, of East Greenbush, NY, enjoys being the new grandfather of a bouncing boy. He remains working an as environmental lawyer and writes baseball history in his spare time. Simply being alive gives Phil the most satisfaction these days.

Welcome to three new class correspondents who volunteered to replace Gary Rubin, who retired after a couple of decades helping write this column. The new scribes are Susan Farber Straus, Frank Dawson, and Bill “Wes” Schulz, ME ’73. The four of us depend on you to send us news that we can share with our class! ❖ Alex Barna (email Alex); Bill “Wes” Schulz (email Wes); Susan Farber Straus (email Susan); Frank Dawson (email Frank). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1973

Danny Scheraga lives in Tully, NY, with wife Janet (Burgess) ’79, MS ’82. He retired in June 2021 after a remarkable career as the first executive director of the Polo Training Foundation. He started out managing the Cornell Equestrian Center after graduation, eventually serving as polo coach for ten years. In retirement, he serves as chairman of the USPA arena rules subcommittee and is a member of the USPA National Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Host Committee.

Janet and Danny spent September and October on a 10,196-mile camping trip, which included a visit with son Jeff ’08, who (no surprise) runs the Polo Academy at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club. In February—the ultimate honor—Danny was presented with the 2022 Philip Iglehart Award (named for the legendary Chilean polo star Philip L.B. Iglehart); he will be inducted into the Polo Hall of Fame for his outstanding contribution to arena polo. The sport of kings is in good hands.

Russell Freer lives in Wolcott, NY (about midway between Rochester and Syracuse), with wife Lorraine. His answer to the standard alumni question “What’s something you’re doing now that you never imagined?” was as follows: “Getting old and praying that my country survives.” He reports that he’s been married to two wonderful Christian women and has seven children, 26 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. I’m not sure if the class keeps statistics, but that may set the record for descendants. He enjoys hunting, fishing, gardening, and his new hobby: “resting.”

Shelley Grumet Schimelman lives in Clifton Park, NY, where she and husband Mark ’72 are about to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They now have three grandchildren, and spend winters in Palm Beach, FL. Since we’ve all reached “how-did-your-surgery-go age,” Shelley reports last year’s right shoulder replacement went very well: the pain is gone, and she’s almost back to full arm movement, which is important because her new hobby is bird-watching during walks in the woods, and you can’t hold the binoculars steady with a bum shoulder.

Mike Ciaraldi lives in Shrewsbury, MA, and is the latest member of the class to get published—his short story “The Laws,” his first published work of science fiction, will appear in The Antihumanist, a new Australian magazine that rejects the principle that humans should be the measuring stick by which existence is defined. I vaguely recall a few late-night discussions in the U-Halls where we came to the same conclusion.

Laurence Ference is semi-retired and reports that he and Joann, after selling their house in Vermont two years ago, now live in Surry, ME. It’s a former shipbuilding village, near Acadia National Park (check out “Sunken Timbers: The Ghost Wharves of Surry Village”) and seems the perfect place in which to semi-retire. Even better, Laurence works part time at a hearth and stove shop, and, considering that January mornings in Surry can bottom out at 12 degrees, dealing in hearths and stoves should be a solid business.

I would not be surprised if we are the only Cornell class with graduates who have been immortalized for both polo and solid waste.
David Ross ’73

Marc Rogoff, MS ’76, holds a PhD and works with Geosyntec, specializing in solid waste. His answer to the question, “What’s something you’re doing that you never imagined?” is: his entire career as a solid waste consultant. And if you’ve ever witnessed a garbage strike, you know that there is no function more fundamental to human civilization than responsible waste removal.

Marc has worked with more than 600 communities to help construct $1.2 billion in solid waste projects and was named a life member of the Solid Waste Association of North America. He also earned a 2020 Legacy Award in the Municipal Solid Waste Management journal—one of only 30 professionals in the last 30 years so honored. I would not be surprised if we are the only Cornell class with graduates who have been immortalized for both polo and solid waste.

Ann Prezyna and spouse Gordon Lewis live in Hereford, AZ. Ann still works for Animal and Earth Advocates, the law firm she co-founded to protect and preserve wildlife and wild lands; she also helped found a Washington State nonprofit, Washington Wildlife First. Her ongoing project is to re-wild the 120 acres they own on Arizona’s San Pedro River, retreating to their Seattle houseboat when they need to rehydrate. Ann’s hobby is vegan meals—which I can tell you have been raised to a high art here in Seattle.

Larry Taylor is a managing partner at the Yield Lab, which invests in agrifood systems around the world. They’re incubating technology for sustainable sources of fresh water, early pest detection to minimize pesticide use, precise medication for farm animals, and more efficient use of light to increase crop yield. Larry is a big fan of the Cornell Entrepreneurial Network. And I think we know where he gets his energy from—his mother celebrated her 100th birthday in March.

Patti Miller Ross ’72 and I continue grandparenting our two grandchildren, in-person and virtually, and as we watch each daughter discover how much work it is, we wonder how we ourselves got through it all. By the way, I am not at all surprised by what I’m doing now, except that I haven’t retired from doing it yet. ❖ David Ross (email David); Pamela Meyers (email Pamela); Phyllis Haight Grummon (email Phyllis). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1974

The high today in Tucson will be 104 degrees—but it’s a dry heat. When it hits 110, the weather people describe the temperature as “toasty.” And yet we love it here with the diversity of cultures, neighborhood animal life (rattlesnakes, javelinas, great horned owls, coyotes, and bobcats passing through the yard), and some awesome scenery. Best of all, one son and his family live here.

J. Michael Knuff is also enjoying living in the same state and location as his kids and grandchildren, having recently moved to Norwalk, CT. He gets satisfaction these days from family, making new friends, and undertaking projects with his wife to make their new home a welcoming place. He is retired but does work as a small business mentor for SCORE and is loving playing golf, especially when he can play with his son. A third grandchild is “on the way”!

Lee Schear is working full time managing a consumer lending business while living in Dayton, OH, for half the year and Antigua for the other half. Right now, he’s building a deli (but we want to know if that deli is in Antigua!), which is something he never imagined he’d be doing. He enjoys following Ohio State football and visiting kids and grandchildren in Tel Aviv and New York City.

Karen Lewis Young never imagined she would become an author, but somehow—while working six days a week as a comptroller in the family business (Robert Young & Son Inc.)—she’s writing a book about her father, who was a prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials. Karen is a self-described “gym rat,” which must help keep her active with family (nine grandchildren!) and her community. She is especially enjoying decorating, fast walking, and spinning at the gym.

While getting the most satisfaction these days from his family, Stephen Banker has been “singing up a storm” on the risers as a bass with the Westchester Chordsmen. He was president of that organization for five years. I did look at their website and had a most enjoyable listen. I recommend it to classmates who are curious. Stephen has also taken up barbershop “quartetting” and long-distance road-biking from his home in Rye, NY.

Since retiring, Annette Chaney-McClinton has been traveling extensively internationally with her husband. She has also continued “to assist graduate students with completion of their master’s theses and doctoral projects” while also serving as a reviewer and consultant to accreditation agencies. The marriages of children and the arrival of grandchildren have been interspersed with her new hobbies of Zumba, line dancing, learning Spanish, and perfecting her cooking skills.

Marianne Kah is still living in Santa Fe, NM, and is doing research at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy. She also serves on two corporate boards and is a director for the Houston Grand Opera. Marianne has taken up snowshoe hiking and reports having recently had dinner with Bonni Schulman Dutcher, John Ramsay, and Fabio Saturni in Washington, DC.

This column is being bookended by Knuffs; the final contributor this issue is J. Patrick Knuff, a resident of New York City who is most definitely not retired and working full on as a human resources executive. That said, he gets the most satisfaction these days from “not working”!

Your news—including such things as the wildlife that passes through your garden or your new areas of interest—is always welcome. I would personally like to hear what my classmates are reading these days. ❖ Molly Miller Ettenger (email Molly); Jim Schoonmaker (email Jim); Lucy Babcox Morris (email Lucy). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1975

I just returned from Ithaca for my Johnson School Reunion and, as always, the campus is beautiful (it’s June, the most wonderful time to be there) and there are many changes. Hoy Field, home to Cornell baseball for 100 years, is being moved to Ellis Hollow to make room for a new academic building for the College of Computing and Information Science. Also, on North Campus, five new dorms are being or are already built to accommodate all freshmen and sophomores. Two that I saw were named for Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’54 and Toni Morrison, MA ’55. The other three dorms are named after Barbara McClintock 1923, PhD 1927, Hu Shih 1914, and the Indigenous Cayuga Nation (it’s called Ganędagǫ, which means “hill”). It was a sad reminder of the 45th Reunion that we missed and a great reminder of the 50th that we will enjoy in June 2025!

I have a couple of sad posts for the class. Former ’75 class president Charles Temel passed away on April 14. Charlie built a career as a trusted financial advisor to his long-standing clients at UBS, where he was a managing director. He was the past president of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, a past chair of the Cornell Library Advisory Council, and a leader in many local, national, and international organizations. He is survived by his wife, Judy (Wesalo), and his three children, Erica ’06 (Max Levine), Laura ’09 (Sam Kleiner), and Dan ’14 (Sharla Grass), and his three grandchildren, Ben, Lily, and Nina. We also lost Stephen Lawton in April 2020. Stephen’s wife, Cathy, shared, “Stephen was a retired Lt. Col. USAF of Dover, NH, formerly of North Collins, NY. He was husband to Catherine and father to Matthew (Lindsey) and Melissa (Todd) Merrill.”

Madelaine Zadik is retired from consulting for the Botanic Garden of Smith College in Massachusetts. She has been writing during her retirement and added a link to one of her latest publications—a fascinating read. She spoke at Liberation75, an international conference to mark the 75th anniversary of liberation from the Holocaust. Jeanne Allen also writes from Massachusetts, where she is a family nurse practitioner at Holyoke Health Center. Jeanne received the Mentoring Award from the Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse Practitioners for lifetime work with NP students and getting young people into healthcare fields, as well as medical brigades to Honduras.

I just returned from Ithaca for my Johnson School Reunion and, as always, the campus is beautiful and there are many changes.
Deb Gellman ’75

Barbara Polatnick writes from Cherry Hill, NJ, where she lives with husband Tom Caracciolo. She retired in 2016 after 16 years as a social worker with in-home hospice care. Retirement has allowed her to play pickleball at least three times a week, take piano lessons, and begin to take horseback riding lessons! Their two sons and two granddaughters live nearby so they are fortunate to see them regularly as well. Michael Tannenbaum and wife Karen split their time between Oneonta, NY, and Aiken, SC. Mike is building a collection of bourbons and ryes, experimenting at home by mixing different cocktails, and walking daily with his dog three to four miles despite weather challenges. Their son is in South Carolina and their daughter is in California and they are still looking forward to grandkids. Mike has used the web to help teach himself pencil sketching.

Jeffrey Weinberger is in Riverside, CT, where he concentrates in internal medicine in Greenwich with no plans for retirement. He is also on the medical staff of Mohonk Mountain House in the Hudson Valley, “a national treasure founded by Quakers in the late 1860s,” according to Jeff! (I was there with my family when growing up and it is a treat!)

Phyllis Martin is in Houston, TX, with husband Westley Clavey. She has been sailing, reading, and working for the Democratic Party and also has picked up cooking as a recent hobby! Their son Charles graduated from Columbia, Cambridge, and Harvard with a PhD in history, and “finally” got married in 2021 in NYC! Also in Texas is Dianne Veris Puls, in Irving with husband Mike. They were heartbroken to lose their sons Jeremy and Garrett in 2021. Dianne is a headhunter with a small boutique search firm in Dallas that serves only nonprofit organizations.

Here’s another reminder about updating contact info: Many of us have changed our email, moving from AOL, Yahoo, Hotmail, and work addresses that have changed over the years! If Cornell does not have your current info, you are missing out on many event invites and classmates who miss and want to find you! If you would like to update your email address, mailing address, email preferences (you can opt out of solicitation emails and receive event emails only!), or work information, go to CornellConnect. Furthermore, Cornell has changed the email forwarding policy for those who have emails forwarded from their cornell.edu email address. To update your email forwarding go to this website.

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

1976

The pandemic hasn’t slowed some of us down whatsoever, it seems! Bill Altmann says, “Since lockdown began, I have published 16 books, all fiction, in genres as widely varied as political fiction, senior stories, and science fiction. Achieving this has been a bucket list item for 20-plus years. I’d like to thank my creative writing class (1975), in the midst of my Engineering studies, for the courage to put my story ideas into print.

“After 40-plus years as an engineer, I am working as a technical writer, crafting patents and data sheets and the like for clients. I have, so far, 16 patents to my name, and another 14 or so in the pipeline. Contributing as an engineer, well beyond being the ‘writer’ alone, has been very satisfying. Thank you, Cornell Engineering education!” Bill adds, “We are resuming vacation travel, with four countries on the itinerary in 2022, including a visit to the Isle of Man, where my German grandfather was in a POW camp in WWI.” His greatest satisfaction is “my grandchildren and their parents, who have turned out pretty damned well!” Bill and his wife Elizabeth live in Austin, TX.

From Albany, NY, Joe Doherty writes, “In retirement, my wife, Pat, and I are maintaining more regular exercise routines (e.g., going to the gym in the early afternoon when it is sparsely populated!), meeting friends for lunch or dinner, taking advantage of many regional special events/venues, traveling more, etc.” Joe has also picked up a new hobby: “I recently started playing pickleball with several other Baby Boomers (a couple of whom are fellow Cornellians!).”

Joe says, “Both of our daughters and their significant others live within New York State (Meaghan in Valhalla and Caitlin in Lockport), so we get to visit with them fairly regularly. It is nice to see them doing well and to participate in the ‘senior-friendly outings’ (insert eye roll) they plan when we’re with them. We get satisfaction from interacting with and helping some of our neighbors who are less mobile and/or socially connected than my wife and I are. I also volunteer on our city’s transportation subcommittee for sustainability issues, which involves many interesting and challenging topics.”

One thing that Joe never imagined he’d be doing is “being very careful not to mention certain ‘hot-button political topics’ with a subset of my longtime friends and some relatives. Unfortunately, times have changed (and not for the better) regarding ‘bouncing around opposing ideas over a few beers.’” In a happy postscript, Joe adds, “I want to add a shout-out to Charles Chuang, who shared news in a recent Class Notes column. His name came up at a recent ’76ers mini-reunion in Emerald Isle, NC. Other classmates in attendance with their spouses were: Randy Kissell, Jim Lang, Mike Dominiak, Larry Zamojski, ME ’77, and Curt Singer. Lots of fun!”

Please share your fun, your travels, your work, your family news, or your memories with us! For many of us, this year has brought our 50th high school reunions—how did those go? Do tell! Could be a preview for our Cornell 50th four years from now…. ❖ Pat Relf Hanavan (email Pat); Lisa Diamant, (email Lisa). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1977

It was a bit cooler than hoped for in June, with a little rain—it is Ithaca after all—but that didn’t stop the fun for 189 alums from the Class of 1977 who journeyed to Ithaca to celebrate our 45th Reunion! What a weekend it was, filled with laughter, memories, and lots of Cornell spirit.

Reunion kicked off Thursday afternoon at our class headquarters, located in the Carl Becker House on West Campus. Early arrivals included Debbie Lathrop Lechner, Anne Vitullo, Sheryl Checkman, Carol Benson Antos, and Courtland and Donna Fulkerson LaVallee. After a busy afternoon of checking in and settling into our accommodations, we were treated to a hard cider tasting with CALS Professor Gregory Peck, followed by dinner catered by the Hot Truck. Later, a Cornell Dairy ice cream spree at Becker House led into a long evening of socializing with friends old and new.

Friday was a full day, filled with class and University-wide events. An interesting variety of exhibits and lectures was available to all alumni, as well as campus bus and walking tours and goat yoga on the Ag Quad!

Several of us, including Chuck Ortenberg and Michael Murray, attended “A Conversation with President Martha Pollack” Friday afternoon in Bailey Hall. Over the last few years, the format has changed from the traditional president’s address to a conversation-style event between the president and three current students. Topics ranged from the challenges of dealing with COVID-19 on campus, to ongoing diversity and inclusion efforts and advice for future Cornellians. The students were impressive and gave us all insight into life on the Hill today.

Friday evening, the class enjoyed a reception and dinner catered by Dinosaur Bar-B-Que at the Johnson Museum of Art tent. The reception provided time to mingle before we sat down to a delicious and very filling barbecue dinner. It was also an opportunity for former Cornell Daily Sun staffers Jeff Earickson, MS ’80, Larry Luxenberg, and Jay, MD ’81, and Sarah Masters Buckey to catch up prior to a more formal get-together with the Sun alumni. Before dinner, the class was greeted by Erica Healey-Kagan ’05, CACO president and daughter of our Reunion chair, Cara Lebowitz Kagan. Unfortunately, Cara was unable to attend Reunion at the last minute, but she joined the festivities virtually to say hello.

A Cornell Dairy ice cream spree at Becker House led into a long evening of socializing with friends old and new.
Mary Flynn ’77

Saturday had several highlights. After breakfast and the traditional Reunion 5K, all alumni were treated to “Bill Nye Comes Home for Reunion!” Our class was well represented and had special seating at a packed Schoellkopf Stadium as Bill took to the stage. His speech to the attendees was both interesting and inspiring, filled with personal stories and reminiscences as well as observations on society over the years and our power to change the world for the better. For those who missed it, you can see Bill’s presentation as well as other Reunion videos here.

Saturday evening’s class reception at the Willard Straight Terrace provided the background for our class picture, which you can see on our class website. A buffet dinner at Okenshields followed with entertainment by After Eight, the official a cappella subset of the Cornell University Chorus. After Eight has been serenading Cornell’s campus and beyond since 1991 and was a special treat for our classmates. In addition to the revelry, there was business to attend to including the election of class officers for the 2022–27 term. The elected slate includes: Joe Reina, president; Lorrie Panzer Rudin, vice president; Chuck Ortenberg, treasurer; and Donna Darragh Copley, secretary. Please check out our class website (link above) for a complete list of class officers including membership and media chairs, class council members, and Annual Fund reps.

Saturday’s festivities continued at Cornelliana Night, held this year at Schoellkopf Stadium. The Chorus, celebrating its 100th year (it’s actually 102 but the celebration was postponed due to COVID), joined the Big Red Band and treated the crowd to many Cornell favorites, concluding with the traditional singing of the “Alma Mater.” Parties at the Arts Quad followed each night’s festivities. John Molinda and Robin Waite Steinwand were among the many attendees and confirmed that the crowd and the music was filled with energy and great fun!

Sunday morning brought Reunion to a conclusion with brunch at Becker House. Among those lingering over coffee before heading home were Chris Podd, ME ’78, Thomas and Joan Pope Kokoska, Lalana Janlekha Green, and Victor Giddings. All agreed it was a fantastic Reunion and are looking forward to the next. So, mark your calendars now for the weekend of Reunion 2027: June 10–13. Let’s make our 50th the biggest and best Reunion ever!

Last but not least, I’d like to thank our Reunion committee, Cara Kagan, Karen Lipton Wellin, Donna Copley, Geoff Gailey, Debbie Lechner, and Halsey Knapp, for planning such a great weekend for all of us. Special thanks to Cara, who coordinated details during the weekend from her home in NYC, and to Karen, who was the on-site manager at headquarters. They did a spectacular job!

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

1978

If news from classmates reflects life, “normality” is the order of the day, as many of you wrote about things other than COVID-19!

Kudos and huzzah to Walter Milani, whose new Broadway production, Paradise Square, received 10 Tony nominations! Its star, Joaquina Kalukango, won the Tony for best actress in a musical. The news was shared on LinkedIn by Douglas Johnson, Walter’s fraternity roommate and good friend. He calls the musical a phenomenal production and encourages anyone who can see it to do so.

Stephanie Mitchell, JD ’80, meanwhile, is “addressing the consequences of Brexit as a civil servant with the Scottish government.” This after retiring in 2019 from life as an EU civil servant after nearly 20 years in Brussels. Stephanie is having a grand time living by the sea in Edinburgh and exploring its green spaces, cultural opportunities, and wonderful food and drink. Beef, cheeses, gin, and whiskey are often on the menu. In the medieval center of Kirkwall, Stephanie took part in a reenactment of some Scottish witch trials. Making the clothes and living the life of 1600s Scotland for a day was fascinating, she says, “but also terrifying to feel how quickly suspicion could fall on everyone and anyone in the community. Definitely relevant to today.” Working remotely during the pandemic has allowed Stephanie to learn Gaelic and take online archaeology courses from Oxford. Her weaving, embroidery, sewing, and collage hobbies benefit from local Scottish wool and fabric.

And now the retirements: Paul Brenner, MBA ’79, is happy to have the time to pursue his interests. A fan of disc sports, he formed a company called Ithacadisc, where he hopes to promote fun and fitness. Also a music aficionado, Paul plays guitar, bass, and trumpet, and has his sights set on learning piano. When not playing disc sports or music, or boating or skiing, he can be found rock climbing at the Cornell Lindseth Climbing Wall. Paul delights in seeing his daughters thrive as physician specialists. So far, he has one granddaughter to spoil. Steven Gunby retired a few years ago after 30 years at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). He is now CEO of FTI Consulting, which he calls both challenging and rewarding. Steven’s wife, Margaret, teaches Chinese politics at UMD. Their older son is a post-doc in math at Rutgers, while the younger followed in Dad’s footsteps at BCG.

Kudos and huzzah to Walter Milani ’78, whose new Broadway production, Paradise Square, received 10 Tony nominations!

After 25 years at Johnson & Johnson, Victor Janas, MS ’79, retired at the end of last year and is preparing to move to a new home in Lewes, DE. We can all envy Kevin Wandryk, who moved from “the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley to the wine country of Napa, CA.” In his retirement, Fraj Lazreg still enjoys meeting people and developing new businesses. As president and CEO of Investors’ Advantage Portfolios, he gets excited seeing young people, families, and businesses succeed. When not working, you can find him tackling a new hobby: fishing. Fishing is also a favored sport for Courtland Williams, who bought a boat and moved to the beach in Fairfield, CT. His family brings him the greatest satisfaction, celebrating 35 years of marriage to his wife, Stacey, and seeing his son and daughter succeed in life.

You might think it’s a little early to start thinking or writing about Cornell Reunion 2023, but our class Reunion co-chairs, Laura Day Ayers, MBA ’86, and Kathy Duggan, are already busy planning for the big 45th! Yikes! Kick-off festivities were held in NYC in June with a rooftop cocktail party and a suite at Yankee Stadium to watch the Yankees defeat the Detroit Tigers. About 20 of our classmates attended, including Mary Bowler, Angela DeSilva, Cynthia Kubas, Pat Reilly, Vicky Hartman, Winston Tom, Genevieve Chu, Bill Cavanaugh, Nina Silfen, Kent Sheng, BA ’82, Melinda Dower, and David Bilmes. Proceeds from the baseball bash went to the Class of ’78 Memorial Scholarship fund. Meantime, mark your calendars for June 8–11, 2023 and keep an eye out for more information.

Until next time, be sure to send in all the news that’s fit to post to either of us, or you can submit directly to Cornellians using the online news form. ❖ Ilene Shub Lefland (email Ilene); or Cindy Fuller (email Cindy). Alumni Directory.

1979

Hopefully everyone was able to relax this summer. Based on classmate news, as a group we were gaining accolades at work, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

At the CALS Reunion breakfast on June 11, Mary Maxon Grainger, MPS ’87, was thrilled to announce, to much applause, that classmate Kathy Gleason, professor and department chair of Landscape Architecture, is the 2022 CALS Alumni Association Outstanding Faculty Member. Trained as a landscape architect (MLA, Harvard) and archaeologist (DPhil, Oxford), she is an internationally renowned specialist on the archaeology and history of designed landscapes in the ancient Roman world. Kathy’s fieldwork has been conducted most recently at Pompeii and Stabiae, Italy; Petra, Jordan; Caesarea, Israel; and Nagaur, India. A fellow of the American Academy in Rome, the Albright Institute in Jerusalem, and the American Society of Landscape Architects, she has published extensively and currently serves as senior fellow at the Dumbarton Oaks Garden and Landscape Studies program. As a professor of contemporary design, she uses her research to influence the 21st-century landscape by teaching approaches to designing with the material remains of the past and the longue durée of American landscapes, shaped by centuries of indigenous cultural practices.

Karen Gellman, DVM ’95, PhD ’01, also lives in Ithaca and is considered one of the world’s experts in equine posture. She is an instructor in postural rehabilitation, a professional veterinarian continuing education course. Karen has taught veterinarians all over North America and Europe and has written educational articles and presented experimental research at veterinary and Alexander Technique conferences. She explores whether posture matters in horses by looking at the stability of different equine postures and the possible reasons why some domestic horses stand canted-in. You can read more about her work here.

David Langbart had a wonderful visit to Cornell in late April. He noted that there are more and bigger buildings on campus and the trees are taller. He was there to give the History department’s annual “What You Can Do With a History Major” talk. He spoke about the influence of the History department on his career and what he’s done working at the National Archives and Records Administration. The day he arrived, it was bright and sunny, with a temperature near 70 degrees. As he drove away two days later, it was 33 degrees and snowing.

Susan Heller is an intellectual property (IP) lawyer at Greenberg Traurig and has been recognized with multiple honors. She was listed in Managing IP magazine’s “Top 250 Women,” named by the Daily Journal as a top IP lawyer in California, and listed in the 2022 Chambers USA Guide. Susan continues to have one of the preeminent global trademark law practices, counseling household names on their global brand development and management. Her leadership extends to co-managing the firm’s Orange County office and mentoring younger attorneys. She is also deeply involved in her community, serving as a member of the President’s Council of Cornell Women and sitting on the board at the University of California, Irvine’s law school and on the Dean’s Advisory Board at the business school.

The day David Langbart ’79 arrived on campus, it was bright and sunny, with a temperature near 70 degrees. As he drove away two days later, it was 33 degrees and snowing.

Bob and Kathy Zappia Gould enjoy vacationing with their children and grandchildren as often as possible. In March they visited Moab, UT, to explore Arches and Canyonlands national parks with their daughter, Allison, son-in-law, Dan, and granddaughter, Clara, 2. In June, they got together with both their daughter’s and son’s families for a long weekend at Rehoboth Beach. Beckley, 6, and Rowan, 3, enjoyed great beach time with cousin Clara. Fortunately, they all live fairly close to each other in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia to make get-togethers easier to plan. Kathy and Bob are looking forward to retiring from full-time employment in 2023 to spend more time with their grandchildren.

Jordan Lambert, ME ’80, retired in 2021 and is fortunate that he and his wife, Karen Feldt, did not have to postpone travel plans for long during COVID. As soon as cruise lines reopened, they enjoyed 17 days of wonderful April weather touring the Mediterranean from Barcelona to Athens. After working in IT systems for 42 years, Jordan is still a “tech support consultant,” advising other volunteers with their computer issues. He also coordinates a mini call center for his county’s chapter of Penn State Extension Master Gardeners, answering homeowners’ questions and distributing information that often comes from Cornell Cooperative Extension.

In April, Brad and Mary Grainger spent Brad’s 65th birthday at the Syracuse University Carrier Dome watching Cornell beat SU in men’s lacrosse in overtime. Friends gathered for a birthday pre-game dinner and included Susan Call, MPS ’81, Mark and Mary Anderson Ochs, Craig, MBA ’80, and Carol Zimmerman Buckhout, MPS ’82, Kathy Best and Steve Green, Sandy Meek True ’78, Laura Call Andolina ’78, MBA ’86, and Rob Ainslie ’78. They said it was a thrill to cheer the team on to the Final Four, and subsequently the NCAA Championship game, where they lost a close one to Maryland. A few weeks later, Mary and Brad attended the funeral of Coach Richie Moran, where numerous ’79ers from men’s lacrosse were present, including Jeff Dingle.

Many of us love reading about our classmates, but we rely on you to submit information. If you have not recently shared your personal news, please submit it now! You can use the online news form OR submit an email directly to any of your class correspondents: ❖ Danna Levy (email Danna); Linda Moses (email Linda); and Cynthia Ahlgren Shea (email Cynthia). Alumni Directory.

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Classes of the 1980s

1980

The Class of ’80 mail sack sits forlornly in the corner, its only content being the news of Ed Stratton’s retirement. He was the chief human resources officer of Berry Global Group in Evansville, IN. Ed and his wife, Janice, are looking forward to spending summers on Cape Cod.

And now I have the rest of these column inches to myself! My lovely spouse and I (Dik Saalfeld) shook the dust of our little town, Tampa, FL, off of our clothes and moved to cosmopolitan Vermont. The population of the entire state is about a fifth of the population of the Tampa Bay metropolitan area. Rush hour traffic here means that there are six cars ahead of you at the town traffic light. The other day at the dollar store there was only one frazzled employee. She was working the cash register, and the universal sentiment in the long line was that the poor lady was overworked. There were no complaints or requests for speedier work or demands to see management, and one customer even stepped in to help with the bagging. In Florida these situations are considered gunfire-worthy.

It’s not all peaches and cream here, though. Occasionally, for example, a bear walks around the regional hospital campus and watches people having lunch at the picnic tables, which must be unnerving, especially if you’re rehabbing from knee surgery. Also, I’ve heard rumors that the mercury occasionally dips below 60, especially during ski season. Speaking of which, I don’t see many boats, despite the supposed popularity of skiing. Perhaps I should look into this.

My lovely spouse and I shook the dust of our little town, Tampa, FL, off of our clothes and moved to cosmopolitan Vermont.
Dik Saalfeld ’80

And now, on to politics! (My editor just broke into a cold sweat.) I think we can elevate the dignity of political discourse in our country, especially in debates, by introducing pies and rubber chickens. And now, religion! (Whoa, I should check if she’s breathing.) I am still riddled with guilt over not turning in a paper for Professor Moore’s American religious history class. It was to be a biting piece about the burned-over district and the rise of the Latter-day Saints, but I was never possessed of the Holy Spirit, so to speak, and the opportunity eluded me. At the time I was pursuing the affections of a young lady who, coincidentally, had just converted to Mormonism, and she was none-too-pleased with my attitude. It soured me. I never saw her again, but Professor Moore gave me an arched-eyebrow look a couple of times.

Enough about me. Why haven’t you written? We correspondents just sit here in the dark, waiting for a card, a letter—would it kill you to send an email? You would be surprised at the number of connections that get made or rekindled after a mention in the Class Notes. For example, Ed Stratton’s friends from the Hill just read about his retirement (see above), and are busying themselves to send us their news as well. See how it works? It just takes a bit of pump-priming. Tell us about your best and worst days at Cornell, and what happened to you in the ensuing decades. There are more decades behind us than ahead of us, so what are you waiting for? ❖ Dik Saalfeld (email Dik); Leona Barsky (email Leona); Chas Horvath (email Chas); David Durfee (email David). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1981

Wow, how time has flown! The summer has been upon us—and it’s a busy one for me. I’m still raising funds for Hadassah (Women’s Zionist Organization of America), and my kids were away for the summer (Brayden at camp in the Poconos and Ella in Israel through her camp), so Russ and I were able to travel around the Northeast and see different friends as well. I love my kids, but I also love when I have some free time!

Cornell recently matched me up with a buddy who is a current student. She is from Miami and a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences, majoring in Psychology and double minoring in Health Policy and Health Equity, and playing on the soccer team (I played soccer at Cornell myself!). The soccer team is currently in off-season training, so they’ve been lifting and playing indoor soccer! It’s super fun corresponding with her.

Kevin Kranen, ME ’83, had a fun visit with David ’79 and Jody Weiner Kauffman in Menlo Park. His own mini-reunion! He was also in Como, Italy, and ran into Marty Grims ’83. Imagine that!

Steve Fisher writes that he participated in an archaeological excavation mission, uncovering a military camp of the Legio VI Ferrata (a.k.a. the “Sixth Ironclad Legion”), a legion of the Imperial Roman army, circa 100–200 AD.

Emily Gross Eider welcomed her first grandchild in July 2021. Emily and her husband were so excited to be grandparents, they moved from Delaware to Maryland to babysit when their daughter went back to work. They live in Odenton, MD, near both Washington and Baltimore.

Karen Whitman went to California for a wedding in May. Amy Wrobel Lamb ’82’s son, Stephen, got married! (Congratulations!) Speaking of California, Dawn Ackerman is a professor at Sierra College and lives in Folsom, CA. She is about to retire! Dawn fondly remembers walking Cascadilla Gorge, evenings at the Palms, and studying in the A.D. White Reading Room.

After putting flying on hold for many years, Bill Nesheim ’81 joined a local club and recently made a trip from New Hampshire to Ithaca to visit his dad.

Susan Glenn Joseph has been married to a wonderful man for more than 30 years and has twin daughters who graduated from Cornell in 2017. Susan is finishing up a six-year volunteer stint with the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators and has been appointed the executive director of the Cornell FinTech Initiative. She had a traditional career—first marketing, then law—which culminated in a general counsel position for an insurer. For the past seven years, she has been consulting in Blockchain and FinTech through a consulting company she started, SusanJosephLLC. She’s also been doing pro bono work for a not-for-profit she co-founded called Diversity in Blockchain, which aims to accelerate inclusion, education, and networking. She is CEO of a startup, HealthTrends.AI, that has an NSF award and addresses public health data and blockchain. She loves swimming and running (ran the NYC Marathon in 2014—but no more marathons!) and watercolor painting. But mostly, she loves spending time with her husband, her adult children, friends, and their newest addition during the pandemic, a rescue cat named Weebles who loves to sit in laps and purr.

Bill Nesheim had 37 years in the IT industry, most recently as senior VP for Solaris Operating System development at Oracle. He is now retired and moved full time to the lakes and mountains of New Hampshire. Bill and Melanie (Hayes) ’82 have two children who also live in New Hampshire—Brendan and Amelia ’14—so they get to see them often. They particularly love spending time with Brendan and his wife Christine’s little son, their first grandchild. Bill adds that he enjoys getting back to many of the activities he didn’t have time for while pursuing his career and raising his family. Melanie and Bill both got their private pilot certificates at the East Hill Flying Club in Ithaca shortly after graduating from Cornell, and after putting flying on hold for many years Bill joined a local club and recently made a trip from New Hampshire to Ithaca to visit his dad, who still lives in town. He also enjoys spending time hiking and skiing in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. He serves on the town planning board and volunteers with their church and as a property monitor for a local land trust. While working for Sun Microsystems and Oracle, he traveled to many interesting places but had limited time to explore and enjoy them. In the coming years, Melanie and Bill hope to be able to travel, explore, and reconnect with old friends.

Here’s a list of your class officers from now through Reunion 2026: president, Fredric Cohen; executive VP, Cathy Cosentini Bonczek; VP events, David Boraks, Susan Levitt, and Renee Miller-Mizia; secretary/treasurer, Monique van Perlstein; Cornell Annual Fund representatives, Kenny Blatt, John Boochever, Michael Troy, and Lisa Kremer Ullmann; membership chair, Rochelle Michaux; class correspondent, Betsy Silverfine; Reunion chairs, Tanis MacKay-Bell, Heidi Fleischman, BS ’84, Celia Rodee, and Daniel Weisz; affinity chair, Laura Dake Roche; social media/website community, Steven Ritchey; and nominations chair, Celia Rodee. Congratulations to all! If you would like to be involved in any of these areas, please let us know! We would love it!

Feel free to contact me with any of your news for our column! It’s all about you—so please write, tweet, and more! We look forward to seeing you soon! ❖ Betsy Silverfine (email Betsy). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1982

Another fall is upon us, and hopefully the onset of cooler weather will allow us to create new memories that can be shared with our classmates. Please send us your news; we are eager to learn of your latest adventures.

As many of you know, our class held a fantastic 40th Reunion in June. The weather was ideal; there was a great turnout of classmates, friends, and family; and the campus was bustling with lectures, concerts, and late-night parties. A huge thank you goes out to our class Reunion planners—Terry Kilmer Oosterom, Teri Williams Harvey, and Juliet Kolm Gibbs—for once again putting together an amazing array of activities. Another well-deserved thank you goes out to our class Reunion campaign co-chairs—Jon Poe, Jamie Hintlian, ME ’85, MBA ’86, and Bob Ramin, MBA ’85—for their tremendous work in raising a record amount of gifts in honor of our 40th. It was great to see so many familiar faces at our Reunion, and we look forward to seeing as many classmates as possible at our 45th in 2027!

Not surprisingly, we have received a lot of news recently from our classmates. Anita DeFanti Sadek-Lappen, BA ’84, writes that, as a registered nurse, she has been working at a hospital throughout the pandemic. She is counting down to retirement in about three years. In their free time, Anita and her husband, Stephen, enjoy attending college graduations and weddings with family and friends.

One of our Arizona classmates, Michael Panosian, wrote in from Queen Creek. Michael retired from the practice of medicine in 2021 and has since been spending time with his wife, Rene, touring our national parks. Mike also enjoys spending time with grandchildren in Ohio, hiking through desert mountains with his dog, Jake, and honing his wildlife photography skills. Doug Yearley checked in from Wayne, PA, with no news.

Brian Gordon ’82 has assembled a team of researchers to end gerrymandering.

From Alexandria, VA, Rodney Sobin reports that he is working at the National Association of State Energy Officials on energy policy topics. Rodney’s wife, Rebecca (Bennett) ’80, is teaching preschool. Alan Roth reports that he was appointed CEO of Oxford Drug Design, a biotech spinout from Oxford University focused on AI-based drug discovery in oncology.

We received some news from Cathy Lott, who resides in Mt. Horeb, WI, where she is a visiting nurse providing home healthcare to her patients. When not working, Cathy enjoys spending her time with friends: walking, talking, and sailing. She has also begun Pilates and has picked up horseback riding again, a passion of hers from the 1970s!

An environmental economist and professor at the University of Connecticut, Stephen Swallow writes that he lives in Richmond, RI, with his wife, June Anne (Horning) ’81. Steve’s work focuses on the economic value of the environment from forest and open space land conservation, the value of ecosystem services, and the value of water quality. He has plans to retire this year. When not working, Stephen enjoys spending time in the Thousand Islands (Hammond, NY) with family, fishing and doing some dock repair projects.

Brian Gordon wrote in from Merion Station, PA, where he has assembled a team of researchers to end gerrymandering. Over five years, they developed a method of creating electoral districts that limit partisan gerrymandering. The method was adopted by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2018 and 2022. He reports that this work has been extremely gratifying.

Enjoy your fall, and when you have a few free minutes please complete and send us your news forms. Take care. ❖ Doug Skalka (email Doug); Mark Fernau (email Mark); Nina Kondo (email Nina). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1983

Autumn greetings to the amazing Class of 1983. Our 2023 40th Reunion awaits. Yes, 40th. You read that correctly—even without readers!

Exciting news from our 2023 Reunion co-chairs, Lisa Esposito Kok and Tony Giobbi, who attended Reunion 2022, the first in-person one since COVID! They were on a mission, scoping out ideas and venues for our 40th! Also in attendance were class VP Lynn Leopold and membership co-chair Matt Palumbo, BS ’86. A blast was had by all! While some (Tony) had too much beer, the weather was great, and the Tent Parties did not disappoint. Young alums gyrated with those five decades their senior (some using canes as dance aids), and class officers reported taking “a jump to the left, and then a step to the right …,” enjoying the “Time Warp.” The DJ even announced an after-party until 2:30 a.m. on the Ag Quad!

Matt Palumbo (who also serves as the president of the Cornell Asian Alumni Association) had an especially busy Reunion weekend, starting with the Continuous Reunion Club (which introduced a hybrid event for the Cornell Club-New York and Cornell University Press about the new President Obama biography). Matt also visited the Asian/Asian American Student Center, had fun at the Asian American Studies Program oral history project, and hosted a meeting for the Cornell Botanic Gardens and presidents of three Diversity Alumni groups (Cornell Pride, Cornell Military Network, and Cornell Asian Alumni Association). After catching up with friends on Saturday, Matt went on a search for his car on Sunday!

Next year’s Reunion is going to be great, so save the date: June 8–11. It will be worth the trip, whether you’ll be coming from Massachusetts, Manitoba, or Malaysia! And, in case you were wondering, our accommodations will be air-conditioned! Please follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn to stay informed and get involved!

In the meantime, class president Nancy Gilroy and fellow class officers are working hard to organize a number of fun activities to reconnect classmates before our 40th Reunion. In the first quarter of this year alone, we had class block seats for the Cornell vs. Princeton hockey and lacrosse games (kudos to both teams for their tremendous seasons). Class VP Abbie Bookbinder Meyer and social media/webmaster Linda Brennan Waterhouse joined those events, respectively, with Nancy and other classmates.

After our successful virtual pasta-making class with Nona Dora in April, in May Sylvia Han organized an intimate dinner with Boston-area classmates to kick off Memorial Day weekend festivities. In July, Lynn Leopold organized a block of seats for the Yankee vs. Red Sox game. Other events are planned for the late summer and fall (Zinck’s Night and Cornell football at Princeton in October, Red Hot Hockey in November, etc.), so there will be plenty of opportunities for you to reconnect with classmates and get involved!

The Tent Parties did not disappoint. Young alums gyrated with those five decades their senior (some using canes as dance aids).
Stewart Glickman ’83

Wonderful to receive news from Marilee Temple Harris, MAT ’85, who is quite active in Maine, pastoring at the Damariscotta Baptist Church, teaching sixth grade at Friendship Village School, and volunteering with Stepping Stone Housing Inc., a nonprofit that provides low-income families with affordable housing. “I’ve also returned to playing tennis again and love it!” With husband Val, they have two wonderful daughters; one is a senior and plays tennis for St. Lawrence University. “Our children—they rock!”

Susan Relihan Reynolds is retired and having fun in California. Susan and husband Jack travel, most recently to South Africa, and spend time with kids and grandkids. “I work in the arts to raise money for contemporary artists in our area, and also run my own studio business. I took up serious hiking last year and look forward to summiting Mt. Whitney in August.” Susan is getting great satisfaction from health, family, tennis, skiing, and, lately, pickleball. “Pickleball seems to be the rage and is good fun to play.”

Lovely to hear from Yvonne Brouard, who, with husband Robert Altman ’84, bought a retirement home in Hawaii. Yvonne enjoys her work outdoors tending garden and raising animals, especially kunekune pigs. A doctor, Yvonne’s medical specialty is general and behavioral/developmental pediatrics. One son is married and, following in his mom’s footsteps, attends medical school. Another son is applying to medical school with a music degree. And the third is becoming a teacher and computer science professor. Future Class of ’83 visits to Hawaii?!

Congrats to Marti Reisman Sheldon, who writes that she is celebrating her 40th year with Boeing as a software process engineer. Keeping up the family passion for technology, Marti’s husband, Mark, MS ’85, recently purchased a hydrogen fuel cell Toyota Mirai.

It’s always special to include news from one of our longtime dedicated class officers, Abbie Bookbinder Meyer: “I am really enjoying being a furniture sales associate at Crate and Barrel. I love helping people create a home. I also recently had the best round of golf ever. I keep on improving!”

Michael Prospero is retired and living in Frankfort, IL, with wife Theresa. “I never imagined that we would be assisting with the planning of our daughter’s wedding. Her graduating from med school and us traveling gives me great satisfaction.”

Mark Spiegel lives in NYC with his spouse, Sidney Wu (Yale ’93). Mark runs a value-oriented, long-short equity hedge fund. “I never imagined telling people that I am 60 years old!” Mark and Sidney enjoy “eating out and not waking up the next day with COVID!”

Adam Metz and wife Martha call Aspen, CO, home and look forward to hearing from classmates.

Some sad news unfortunately. We heard from Kathy Riley’s sister, Laura Seaholm, who informed us that “Kathy had a sudden emergent illness on January 2, 2022, and, as a result, passed away a month later, on February 13. Kathy considered her degree from Cornell her first accomplishment that led to many significant others.” Our thoughts and prayers are with Kathy’s family.

Send us your news: ❖ Stewart Glickman (email Stewart); Nancy Korn Freeman (email Nancy); Tom Helf (email Tom); Jon Felice (email Jon). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1984

As we enter the 38th year since we graduated from Cornell (reminder: 40th Reunion in two years!), these are our notes. Blaise Vitale realized that he wasn’t ready to retire yet, after providing medical care in a small (1,400 people) National Health Service Corps community in northern Wisconsin for more than 30 years. So he volunteered to join the Wisconsin National Guard. After being sworn in as a Major, he attended basic training at Fort Sill, OK, and is now the Battalion Surgeon for the 128th Infantry Battalion based out of Eau Clair, WI.

Saul Gitlin has an increasing schedule of book readings at elementary schools in New York and around the country for his children’s book published in 2020, titled Tee-Dog and the Magic Globe: China. He has also just been promoted to executive director of Mount Sinai International, the global consulting arm of the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. He directs all the system’s long-term projects in China. He shares that an extra-large latte each morning while sitting next to the pool they installed on their property is what brings him the most satisfaction these days. He also has recently picked up baking artisanal sourdough bread as a new hobby.

Russell James is back with a new book, Demon Dagger (August 16, 2022; Flame Tree Press), a fast-paced, chilling tale of darkness and vengeance for fans of the TV series “Supernatural,” as well as readers who love Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Chuck Wendig. The story follows L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Drew Price, who has a gift (or a curse?)—when a demon possesses a person, Drew can see the horrific-looking demon that dwells within. Sounds like a great read!

Michael Whiting is enjoying sleeping past 7 a.m. more than he ever imagined, and he is not stressing on Sunday night about the week ahead. He retired from Johnson & Johnson in August 2021 after 35 years. He is teaching supply chain management at Rutgers Business School as an adjunct professor, and he is running their co-op and leadership programs. He is looking forward to a COVID-delayed family reunion in Umbria, Italy, this summer, followed by a sailing trip to Croatia. Getting outside for a walk in the neighborhood or at the beach is what brings him the most satisfaction these days. He has also recently picked up racing small sailboats on Barnegat Bay.

Blaise Vitale ’84 realized that he wasn’t ready to retire yet—so he volunteered to join the Wisconsin National Guard.

Anne Gumkowski Pierce is consulting with private equity firms. She opened the permanent facility for South Florida Autism Charter School for their youngest son and over 300 families in South Florida. She has been enjoying work, running, biking, and getting ready for Ben Pierce ’23’s graduation from Cornell. Go Big Red!

Herb Riband is working with three universities to develop a life/career transition program like what he enjoyed at the Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute. He is working in global health/healthcare consulting during retirement, while his wife, Jeanine (Thomas), works as an after-school art and science teacher at the International School of Louisiana. What brings him the most satisfaction is improving the lives of people living with cancer. He’s recently starting to get active in the Cornell Club of Switzerland.

Laurene Mongelli Gilbert, BS ’86, is enjoying retirement more than she ever imagined. She says, “It’s funny. You work most of your life never thinking about retirement. Then, one day, you find yourself thinking about nothing else!” She is active, playing golf and pickleball, doing aerobics and Pilates, socializing, and being more connected with family. The more time she spends on the golf course, the better. Laurene has been spending time maintaining her house and yard. She loves to cook, too! She likes maintaining an even balance between alone time and time spent with friends and family. She has recently become a member of an organization called Love Living at Home and has met a whole new network of smart and engaged individuals.

José Montes is conducting clinical trial research for innovations of the cosmetic industry. He is still a professor in the ophthalmology department at the University of Puerto Rico. He’s also had his own private practice for 27 years, José Raúl Montes Eyes & Facial Rejuvenation.

Ted Clark has started a new business in his retirement: he formed FourBridge Partners to help families and institutions access the venture capital market. He also has lots of time for golf and paddle tennis—and has recently picked up pickleball. He is blending a new family, and his daughter is getting married after becoming a veterinarian. What brings him the most satisfaction these days? He says seeing his four kids grow up and succeed, and reacquainting with Cornell friends after too many years.

And last but not least, our class sponsored a successful virtual event back in May. “It’s Travel Time” was organized by our Class of ’84 membership committee co-chairs Amy Brown Fraser and Kathy Dodd O’Brien. The event took us through past and future fun, with educational, relaxing, romantic, and sporty destinations curated by Cornell’s Adult University (CAU) and Cornell Alumni Travel (CAT). With so many new travel ideas, attendees then split into a handful of breakout groups that allowed for reconnecting and reminiscing about our time on campus as well as sharing some of our “bucket-list” destinations. To learn more, visit this website.

Don’t forget: You can send news to your incredibly friendly class correspondent, José Nieves, or through the online news form. ❖ José Nieves (email José). Alumni Directory.

1985

Hello all! I know it has been a while since my last writing and I do apologize. Life has been crazy and stressful—but I have a new job that I am loving, so things are looking up! No more healthcare, no more state inspections. I have a couple of pieces of news to share with you.

Dave Votypka and wife Penny are happy to announce they have two grandsons, Teddy and Brooks. This has truly brightened their lives and filled them with love. Dave has gotten back into skiing after a five-year hiatus. Classmate Scott Chapman joined him last year in Stowe, VT, and they were heading to Sugarbush Resort in March. Dave is a second-generation farmer and runs an agricultural business he started in 2004. The farm has been in their family for 75 years and, though both businesses are doing well, he is looking forward to retirement; they just need a plan for someone to take it over. His son graduated from the University of Rochester with a master’s in electrical and computer engineering. He is working in Syracuse, NY, with a private engineering firm that is supplying the military. Dave enjoys being with his children and grandchildren. He and Penny have been visiting craft breweries; since 2018 they have been to 80 in New York and 16 in other states, and Dave has started a glass collection from most. He isn’t sure, though, if Penny is a fan!

Jill Jarvis wrote that in December she sold the real estate that had been occupied by her family since 1912. She felt it was the right time and the right buyer. She is new to retirement and wondering how to spend her time, but is currently enjoying their Stuart, FL, home for the winter months.

For those of you that are “Jeopardy!” fans, Eleanor Stevens Dixon was on the show on July 4 and she WON! It was very exciting for me to be watching a favorite show and to finally have someone to actually root for. Eleanor said she has been taking the “Jeopardy!” test for a while and was very happy to finally be on the show. She was sworn to secrecy, of course, until the episode was going to run. Congratulations, Eleanor! So proud of you!

If you have any news (big or small), recommendations for TV series or movies, books you have enjoyed, or people from Cornell you’d like to reconnect with, write me. Stay well, stay safe, and let’s get through this, people! ❖ Joyce Zelkowitz Cornett (email Joyce). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1986

Ellen Nordberg here, writing from Louisville, CO, where the green grass has come up through the ash of the wildfires we experienced last December. 10,000 homes were lost within a five-mile radius of us, and the rebuilding will take a while. Our house is standing but required ash mitigation. Huge thanks to all of you who reached out to check on us. Grateful for the newly green trees, for my twin boys returning home from college for the summer, and for all the upbeat news classmates have recently submitted!

Janet Providakes (Ayer, MA) writes that she never imagined “dispatching police, the fire department, and ambulances to 911 calls” as her later-in-life job. “Everyone else has retired, and I’m the only one working. Life of a single mom.” She loves “gardening and walking in the fresh Ayer.” (See what she did there?)

David Williams, BS ’89 (Pelham, NH) sent in several business cards to illustrate the many hats he’s wearing in New England: COO of Strategic Probability Partners, VP of the Pelham, NH, Baseball Challenger Division (for players with intellectual and physical disabilities), executive committee member for Shootout for Soldiers Boston, and commissioner of the Olde New England Men’s Summer Lacrosse League. He played intramural lacrosse at Cornell and is still passionate about it. The tagline for the lacrosse league reads, “You don’t quit playing because you get old. You get old because you quit playing.” Love it, David!

“I continue to try cases at Ulmer & Berne LLP in Cleveland,” writes Jeff Dunlap (Hudson, OH). “I serve as the vice chair of my firm’s litigation department, and I serve on the firm’s management committee.” Jeff says he and his wife, Amy, enjoy golfing and visiting their daughters in Manhattan, and recently re-designed their kitchen. For the past 14 years, Jeff also has acted in an annual show put on by the Court of Nisi Prius. George Komatsoulis (Potomac, MD) writes that he recently started a new position as chief data officer at Zephyr AI, a healthcare artificial intelligence company.

2020 was obviously a tough year to celebrate, but we were able to catch nine Dead & Company shows in 2021.
Bill Joyce ’86, MBA ’93

“I recently won my first eight-figure jury trial by defeating a $20 million claim for trade secret theft and unfair business practices,” says Jeffrey Cowan (Los Angeles, CA). Jeff also has identical twin boys two years younger than mine who will be seniors in high school when these notes come out. (I lied and told him it gets easier!) Daniel Hooker (Pearl River, NY) writes that he’s married to Tara and works as an insurance agent for the Knights of Columbus.

“I retired in 2020 after the sale of the company to Goldman Sachs,” says Bill Joyce, MBA ’93 (Smyrna, GA). “2020 was obviously a tough year to celebrate, but we were able to catch nine Dead & Company shows in 2021,” he continues. “My wife, Tammy, just took early retirement from Truist (SunTrust), so we are looking forward to getting out on the road to catch a number of shows, not to mention a few Bills games!”

Diana Skelton (London, UK) writes, “I’ve recently started facilitating Theater of the Oppressed workshops with people in poverty, and also supporting people with low levels of literacy to write poetry. These are both new challenges I’m enjoying a lot.” She adds, “I’m a co-editor for the Journal of Poverty and Social Justice. I’m also running a project in partnership with Amnesty International and the University of Essex Human Rights Centre to prepare evidence for the U.N. review of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.” Diana also says her oldest daughter just completed her master’s in social work at NYU, her second daughter runs creative workshops for young people with learning disabilities, and her youngest daughter is at the University of Southampton. “Now that my nest is officially empty, I have more time for working on my next novel as well as for hikes with friends.”

Mark Brandt (Rocky River, OH) is slated to grace the July/August cover of Triathlete magazine for his efforts in the sport. “I won the cover story,” he says, “because I race hard and have achieved a lot in a short time—completing 18 half Ironman triathlons and two full Ironman triathlons in eight years, and getting four top-ten finishes in big races and qualifying for world championships twice.” He brought triathlon back to Cleveland by creating the Tri CLE Rock Roll Run event. The real reason for the cover win, Mark says, “is that on all those runs, bike rides, and swims, I noticed the lack of diversity in our sport. So I founded a charity, Kids that Tri.” Kids from all around the Cleveland area can learn to swim, bike, and run at no cost to their families.

Thanks so much to all of you who wrote in to share news! ❖ Ellen Nordberg (email Ellen); Toby Goldsmith (email Toby); Lori Spydell Wagner (email Lori); Michael Wagner (email Michael). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1987

Hello, classmates. This is my final contribution as class correspondent. It has been wonderful hearing from all of you over the past five years. As I write this, many of you will be heading to Ithaca for our 35th Reunion. Unfortunately, I cannot attend in person this year, so Whitney Weinstein Goodman will be reporting on the festivities in the next column. But I do want to extend a huge thanks to our Reunion chairs—Mary Bowman, Melissa Hodes Friedenberg, Alex Padilla, and Claudia Regen-Johnston—who have worked tirelessly for many months to ensure that Reunion is an incredible event for everyone.

James Fishkin was “lucky enough to be one of the team physicians for the L.A. Rams all season and then for the Super Bowl. Great experience. Great season. Cornell is the best!”

Andy Karanas really enjoys attending a yoga class two or three times each week. Andy says that he did not imagine that, at age 56, he would be worrying about how to pay some or most of his son’s law school tuition and expenses, preferring that his son not have to take out many loans.

Yoyen Lau owns a medical practice. Her oldest child is in her fourth year of medical school, her middle child is applying to vet school, and her youngest child is a college sophomore. Yoyen enjoys traveling and recently picked up gardening as a hobby.

Tom Riford has two granddaughters (from his oldest daughter)! His son is a U.S. Army Captain and a medevac pilot. Tom leads a busy life. He is the assistant secretary for the Maryland Department of Commerce, teaches skiing, serves as an examiner in the Professional Ski Instructors of America, volunteers with several charities and nonprofits, and serves on six boards of directors of nonprofits.

Jennifer Scanlan works as a financial advisor and is “still skiing” as well. Her daughter is a sophomore at UC Berkeley, and her son is a senior at Chico State.

Matthew Blair, PhD ’98, is on the faculty at Tennessee State University, focusing on land-grant research in plant science, biotech, and genetics. He is traveling to Southeast Asia and, in his free time, enjoys farming, gardening, and “dabbling in French.”

Please keep sending your news our way. We love hearing from you! You can submit an online news form or email Whitney or Liz. ❖ Lisa Burns Griffin (email Lisa); Whitney Weinstein Goodman (email Whitney); Liz Brown (email Liz). Alumni Directory.

1988

As I sit to write this, summer has just begun and the days are long and hot. I realize, however, that by the time this column is published we will be entering the cooler seasons and the Class of 2026 will have just embarked on their Cornell journey. I remember those first days like they were yesterday: “Fun in the Sun” during orientation and figuring out which was the easiest path up Libe Slope and exactly how many minutes it would take to get to Martha Van Rensselaer Hall for my 8 a.m. class. Each time a column is due I can’t help reminiscing about my time in Ithaca remembering the classes, the parties, the faces of my old friends, the U-Halls, spending time in Collegetown eating at the Nines or Dino’s or drinking at Rulloff’s or Dunbar’s, all of which are long gone. I wish the incoming Class of ’26 a magical four years and hope they make wonderful connections with their classmates. And now, here is a smattering of news from the very best Class of ’88!

Pamela Darer Anderson wrote in to tell us that she is managing a track club for middle distance runners from age 9 through high school. In addition, she still owns and operates her small baking business, Pamsweets, which she runs out of her home, and she enjoys baking a variety of sweets for holidays and special events. Pam and her husband, Graham, MBA ’88, have four daughters together. Their oldest, Rebecca, is working in the U.K. for the summer. Next is Allison, who is currently working for Nike in Portland, OR. Their third daughter, Sarah, is beginning her senior year at Connecticut College, and the youngest, Katie, is a senior in high school. Pam writes that she loves spending time with her daughters when they get the opportunity to all be together outdoors skiing, biking, and walking. Pam has picked up a new hobby and is enjoying learning the game of pickleball as well as playing tennis and watching sporting events on television.

We also heard from Lesley Topiol Kowalski, who let us know that her husband, Daniel, is now working for the Governor of Virginia and needs to live in Richmond, VA, all week, though their home is 100 miles away. Never in a million years did she think they would live like this during the week. Lesley and Daniel have two children, one a college graduate from RPI and one a junior at SMU in Dallas, TX. Lesley also wanted us to know that she is still tap dancing!

Last but not least, we heard from Alex Counts, who has surprised himself by publishing one book per year since 2019. Alex spends his time consulting, teaching, and writing articles and books on nonprofit management. The things that bring him the most satisfaction these days are writing about topics that he cares about and having readers respond positively. In addition to all the writing, he is enjoying his new hobbies of cooking and learning Spanish!

That’s all the news for this column. If you would like to hear more about what’s going on with your classmates, encourage them to send in some news—and while you’re at it, don’t be shy about writing in with your own updates! We would love to hear from everyone. You can send your news using the online news form or send an email to any of us, your class correspondents: ❖ Debbie Kaplan Gershenson (email Debbie); Aliza Stein Angelchik (email Aliza); and Lynn Berni (email Lynn). Alumni Directory.

1989

“It’s a far cry from the Hotel School, but Statler Hall gave me the perfect skillset to run the Honey Exchange,” writes beekeeper Phil Gaven. “My wife, Meghan, and I run a hive and honey store in Portland, ME. Retirement is not in Phil’s future; he jokes that he’s taking his cue from the bees (“who work themselves to death”), but he notes, “They say you can never retire from something you truly love.” Phil spent the summer striving to bake the perfect Pullman loaf and adds, “The family was together since dad (Richard Gaven ’62) had to have a root-around in the old ticker. My sisters Cathy and Anne ’99 tried not to make him laugh, with a big scar down his chest and all, but he kept cracking us up.”

Time with family and friends brings Alex Martin the most satisfaction these days. He and Maria Sophocles have been married for 27 years now. They have four children, including daughter Kat ’25, who will be a sophomore at Cornell this fall.

Laura Gratz is “hiking every chance I get! I just started a new job bringing corporate retreat groups to the Berkshires and I love it! I enjoy meeting my uncle, Bill Gratz ’53, and his husband, Jay Bruno, for regular dinner dates in Connecticut.” George Dan lives in Tarrytown, NY.

Nicole Tingus Pappas writes, “I am enjoying boxing classes—which, as a former dancer, I never imagined doing! I’ve also joined a Sarasota, FL, rowing team! Who knew?” Nicole is senior consulting partner/solutions architect with the Ken Blanchard Companies, focused on executive leadership development. She has three teenagers, reports a recent divorce, and shares that her mother turned 80. Time with her family and lifelong friends brings her the most satisfaction these days.

“Six months ago, I started my own home staging and design business, Jane Tucker Interiors,” shares Jane Cantor Tucker. “I have always loved design and finally took the plunge to make it my career. It is so much fun! My son, Jack, graduated from University of Michigan last spring. One of his fraternity brothers is the son of my sorority sister, Amy Susman-Stillman, so it was great to catch up with Amy at graduation!”

Rick Lipsey ’89 calls himself ‘the midnight cellist,’ because he often does his daily hour of practice in the wee hours.

Richard Lipsey has been playing cello for six years, following in the footsteps of two of his boys, ages 12 and 13, who each have played for about eight years. Rick calls himself “the midnight cellist,” because he often does his daily hour of practice in the wee hours. Richard, I humbly recommend the joy of fiddle music to you and your kiddos, if you have not tried it already. I played cello for many years in orchestras and accompanied others—but not just recreationally, to simply play for the joy of it. Fiddle music seemed to set me free to play unfettered. May it unlock new cello fun for you and your kids!

Congratulations to Michael Pambianchi, who has been named a Breakthrough Energy Fellow! Breakthrough Energy is the network founded by Bill Gates that aims to accelerate innovation in sustainable energy and in other technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Michael is a principal at Industrion Technologies LLC, which provides advisory services and angel-round investments in tough tech. Thank you for all the work you did that led to this selection; may it lead to many useful breakthroughs that are adopted and beneficial to many!

Felecia Listwa Stern writes, “I’ve had the privilege of being able to work from home since the pandemic first began, in New Rochelle, NY, home of the first New York COVID case. I am in general counsel for Kroll Government Solutions. I’m thrilled to share that my daughter, Toba Stern ’19, married her Cornellian boyfriend, Jared Raikin ’18, over the summer!” Congratulations to the Stern and Raikin families! On a personal note, this July marked 34 years of marriage to my freshman-year boyfriend, Michael McGarry, just like your Toba! Wishing all the best!

Lastly, Cornell Reunion was in person again this June after a three-year hiatus during the pandemic. Alumni and attendees enjoyed learning while laughing with “Science Guy” Bill Nye ’77, as well as President Martha Pollack’s address. I noticed something new this year: a vintage clothing store offered alumni remuneration in a “Cornell clothing buy back.” Yes, those old varsity sweaters and Fun in the Sun or Sigma Chi Derby Days T-shirts from our time on the Hill are now considered vintage clothing. (But aren’t we well-preserved?) ❖ Lauren Kidder McGarry (email Lauren); Stephanie Bloom Avidon (email Stephanie); Kris Borovicka Gerig (email Kris); Anne Czaplinski Treadwell (email Anne). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

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Classes of the 1990s

1990

In addition to the Class Notes column, there is now another way to get news about alumni with whom you may have fallen out of touch—a podcast produced by two of our classmates! Last year during the pandemic, college roommates Michelle Stuzin Katz and Stephanie Marmelstein Gitlin created the Cornell (thank) U podcast (not sponsored by or affiliated with the University). What began as a plan to interview and entertain their friend group of sorority sisters evolved into a weekly podcast for a broader audience to hear about the Cornell and post-Cornell lives of various alumni and students. (Read the Cornellians story about it.)

Together Michelle and Stephanie devote 10–15 hours each week to producing the podcast, including connecting with potential guests, preparing for and recording the episode, and editing. As Michelle described, “It’s been a lot of fun and we have met some fabulous Cornellians! Each week we invite current students or alumni to come on the show and tell us about their time at Cornell and how they are using their degrees in postgraduate life—or plan to. We always end with a speed round of relatable questions such as favorite Cornell library, Hot Truck order, and class, and then we cover current likes such as books, movies, and podcasts. Every episode ends with our guests answering what they are most thankful to Cornell for. You can find us wherever you listen to podcasts and on our Instagram. Please reach out to us in our Instagram DMs or by email if you’d like to be a guest or know someone who would. We hope you’ll check us out!”

Having listened to a dozen Cornell (thank) U episodes so far, I strongly encourage you to tune in! You will be extremely impressed with the interesting lives and remarkable accomplishments of our fellow alumni or current students, have more than a few laughs, and feel very nostalgic for Cornell and the Big Red traditions that we all seem to share. Listening to classmates talk about their freshman dorm experiences, favorite on-campus dining locations, and Hot Truck orders during the speed rounds, I became especially nostalgic for my freshman U-Hall 1 days. So I reached out to a few fellow U-Hall 1 residents for updates on their lives.

Julie Mazur Tribe has been living in Sydney, Australia, for the past seven years with husband Matt and daughter Marlo. “We love exploring the beautiful green spaces and beaches around the city, though of course we mostly spend our time chauffeuring Marlo through her busy 11-year-old days! I’m an editorial manager and commissioning editor at Australia’s largest independent book publisher, where I keep waiting for them to discover that I know nothing about Australian grammar. Come to Australia and taste the best coffee you’ve ever had!”

I’m an editorial manager at Australia’s largest independent book publisher, where I keep waiting for them to discover that I know nothing about Australian grammar.
Julie Mazur Tribe ’90

Lisa Schlang Siglag and husband Matthew live in Ardsley, NY, where Lisa writes a blog for a real estate company and serves as president of the Ardsley Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization that fundraises and supports the Ardsley public schools. Their son Jason just began his first year at the Isenberg School of Management at University of Massachusetts, Amherst (and was admitted to Cornell for his sophomore year, so he has that transfer option if he chooses it). Younger son Ryan is in 10th grade.

Jonah Klein and Debra Helfand live in Brooklyn, NY, and recently celebrated their 29th anniversary. Their son Sebastian Klein ’26 graduated in June from Brooklyn Technical High School and started in Arts & Sciences, where he will study Computer Science as a third-generation Cornellian—grandfather Richard Klein ’62 taught French literature at Cornell for many years. Sebastian “has been fencing since he was 8 and is looking forward to fencing at Cornell (club team that practices with the women’s D1 team).” Jonah is senior director of human resources at Calvin Klein. Deb, VP/executive managing editor at Farrar, Straus and Giroux publishers, recently found time to run the Berlin Marathon.

Elyse Echtman lives in Rye Brook, NY, and is a litigation partner at Steptoe & Johnson, having recently moved there after 24 years at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. As the only Cornellian in her family, Elyse is outnumbered: husband Danny Berger and their daughter (now in law school) attended Washington University in St. Louis, and their son is currently enrolled there.

Michele Waltzer Posen lives in Manalapan, NJ, with husband Andrew and has been busy raising four daughters: Adena graduated from Binghamton University last spring and is pursuing a master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology at Baruch College; her twin, Rachel, also graduated from and remains at Binghamton University pursuing a master’s degree in business administration; Ariel is a freshman at University of Georgia and competes on the gymnastics team; and youngest daughter Jolie is in 10th grade.

Surpassing Michele’s four, John Lozada has five daughters—27, 24, 8, and 5-year-old twins. John lives with his wife and younger daughters in Massachusetts, where he works as an emergency medicine doctor at Holy Family Hospital. Appropriately to this column, John signed off in his note to me with the comment, “I do miss Cornell and U-Hall 1 a ton.”

Please share your news with any of us, or feel free to send a note with a nostalgic memory of your Cornell experience to include in our next column. ❖ Nancy Solomon Weiss (email Nancy); Allan Rousselle (email Allan); Rose Tanasugarn (email Rose). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1991

“What’s something you’re doing now that you never imagined?” the revamped Share Your News form begins. Many classmates enthusiastically responded, the most I’ve seen.

Luisa Santiago replied with a broad and interesting answer, “Living my best life!” Luisa attended the ILR School on the Hill, and now hails from Mechanicsville, VA. She reports, “I recently retired from a career in the military, where I served as logistician my first nine years and then as an Army judge advocate—almost 30 years in total.” Post-military, Luisa received an executive MBA from UNC Chapel Hill. “I am now a judge and love it!” Luisa has lots of travel plans with her husband, Rick, and enjoys yoga, hiking, and connecting with old friends.

I asked Luisa why she hadn’t imagined living her best life. She thought about my question and shared, “After retiring from the military, I decided that it was most important to take the time to listen and enjoy the friendships and family I didn’t have the time to appreciate because of my work. The past few years have reminded me that life is precious and not guaranteed. There are no do-over opportunities to live quality moments and create memories.” Thank you for your service and wise words, Luisa.

Meanwhile, John Jackson, a CALS grad, helps students live their best lives. “I have taught science at Unadilla Valley High School for 30 years and am fortunate to be part of the New York State Master Teacher Program, as I strive to share my experiences with future teachers at various universities.” John’s 82 documented achievements (in Cornell speak, that’s about half of the 161 steps to the top of McGraw Tower) led to his induction to the Oxford Academy Hall of Distinction. “I feel it is so important to take a sincere interest in my students’ lives and demonstrate that it’s cool to have a variety of interests and be a well-rounded individual.”

John and wife/golf partner Terri take a sincere interest in their children’s lives too. “Our daughter, Kaitlyn, graduated from Ithaca College with an acting and communications degree, appeared on ‘American Idol,’ and has been cast in the national tour of the musical Anastasia.” John has dedicated the past 20 years to coaching son Andrew in every sport at every level. “Andrew now plays basketball for the University of Rochester, where he is a business/finance major and enjoying his time in Rochester.”

Who better to highlight next than ILR grad Kim Best Robidoux, who is helping immigrants lead their best lives. “I recently joined WR Immigration LLP as partner to open and lead the San Diego office!” A multi-year Super Lawyer in the immigration category in San Diego, she writes, “I work with an amazing team on employment-based immigration matters, including guiding employers with I-9 employment verification training, advice, and audit defense.” Related, Kim is group leader for the networking affinity group ProVisors and co-chair of San Diego’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Kim’s best life includes right-brain stress relief outlets, “making liqueurs from my great-uncle Roland’s recipes, creating homemade body scrubs with my sister-in-law, and knitting for fun at a community college class!”

More power to these and other classmates as they strive to lead their best lives. Is your journey 25 steps? 82 steps? 161 steps? However you define it, keep on climbing.

News to share? Send an online news form or contact one of us directly: ❖ Joe Marraccino (email Joe); Wendy Milks Coburn (email Wendy); Ruby Wang Pizzini (email Ruby); Susie Curtis Schneider (email Susie); Evelyn Achuck Yue (email Evelyn). Alumni Directory.

1992

Our 30th Reunion was June 9–12, and it was the first in-person Reunion in years (thanks, COVID). More than 6,000 alumni and guests came back to Ithaca from as far away as Australia, representing 48 states and Puerto Rico. The Class of 1992 had 271 classmates and 386 total attendees. Our Reunion theme was “It’s My Party,” because we didn’t get the big 50th birthday bashes we may have wanted during the pandemic.

Our class headquarters was the brand-new Toni Morrison Hall on North Campus, and the tent just outside Morrison was where Thursday night’s reception and all the breakfasts were held. On Friday night, we had “Fiftieth Fiesta Fun”—with margaritas and a Mexican dinner on the Engineering Quad with a special appearance by the Big Red Band and Touchdown the Bear, followed by an ice cream social with Cornell Dairy back at HQ. On Saturday, we had a “Bougie Box Lunch” with ’80s hits playing in the background and a performance by the Hangovers on the Arts Quad. Saturday night was a western BBQ dinner with beer, bourbon, and “bull riding.” After our class photo, some even enjoyed a little square dancing!

Many of our classmates enjoyed the University Reunion events, which included bird watching, canoeing on Beebe Lake, rappelling off the Schoellkopf Crescent, a student panel with President Martha Pollack, a talk by Bill Nye ’77, Cornelliana Night, and, of course, the Tent Parties!

At our Sunday breakfast, we approved the new slate of class officers: class president Terry Horner, PhD ’98; Vice President Jonathan Simon; membership chair Lisa Everts; secretary Jean Kintisch; Cornell Annual Fund representatives Stephen Mong, ME ’93, MBA ’02, and Meredith Rosenberg; class correspondents Wilma Ann Thomas Anderson, Sarah Ballow Clauss, and Jean Kintisch; treasurer Sharon Kowar deWaard; Reunion chairs Allison Rodd Ceppi, Mariela Markelis Dybner, and Ian Kutner; registration chair Maureen Coughlin Torelli; affinity chair Todd Kantorczyk; web and social media chair Betty Eng; class historian Janelle Styles; immediate past president Jonathan Simon; and class council members Amy Frome Saperstein, Lenore Labi Ades, Lorin Secunda Fine, Rachel Laikind Justus, Amanda Moore Offit, Allison Bergstrom, David Murphy, Alyssa Handler, and Michelle Bouton. Thank you to our outgoing officers for their volunteer service to our class!

Along with Reunion events came our 30th Reunion campaign. This year, Cornell launched a University-wide campaign “to do the greatest good.” Our class joined together and, at the time of this column writing, we had raised more than $11 million from more than 730 classmates, including more than 100 Tower Club donors. This is an outstanding show of support for the University from our class. Visit the campaign site to learn more about Cornell’s plans.

Classmates who sent in their news forms and who also attended Reunion were Marshal Peris and Nat Wood (double points!). Marshal’s daughter just graduated from Cornell with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is very proud! Nat lives in Maryland and is a managing director at Rational 360, a strategic communications and public affairs firm in Washington, DC. His new hobby is kayaking, and he enjoys the bays and rivers of the Mid-Atlantic. His daughter is at Boston University and his son is a freshman at University of Delaware.

In other news, Peter Wahl and his wife, Parul Desai ’91, live in Dover, MA. Peter is the vice president of scientific affairs for CorEvitas, a disease registry company. He appreciates Mother Nature and world (and domestic) peace. His new hobby is “fighting off aging.” Amen!

Alli Frank is a published novelist living in her favorite place on earth—Sun Valley, ID. She recently had her second book published with her co-author, Asha Youmans. Their latest book is Never Meant to Meet You and “skillfully renders an honest portrait of two smart, strong women caught in mid-life tragedies who manage to laugh through the tears and heartache of the modern world they are navigating.” Alli and her family are building a net zero house. She enjoys seeing her girls flourish, outdoor sports, writing, and reading.

Another creative, Dylan Willoughby, MFA ’95, has poems forthcoming in Agenda (U.K.) and Conduit, and photography forthcoming in Wrongdoing Magazine. He is at work on Lost in Stars’ next EP, entitled “Every Breath.”

Please send us your news! Email any of us or use the online news form. ❖ Jean Kintisch (email Jean); Sarah Ballow Clauss (email Sarah); Wilma Ann Thomas Anderson (email Wilma Ann). Alumni Directory.

1993

Pankaj Talwar writes, “We have been living in San Francisco for the past six years. Jyoti and I feel blessed with our two daughters, Anika, 13, and Karina, 10. If you are in the Bay Area and would like to connect, please reach out to me!”

We look forward to hearing from all of you! If you have anything you’d like to share with your fellow alumni, please write to: ❖ Mia Blackler (email Mia); Melissa Hart Moss (email Melissa); Theresa Flores (email Theresa). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1994

This is a big year for the Class of 1994—the year most of us hit the half-century mark. In 1994, when I would read the class column, I never imagined being this close to the front of the Class Notes—and I certainly never imagined that the “magazine” would live solely online! I hit the Big 5-0 in July and 50 certainly seems a lot younger now than it did when Wilford Brimley played an old, old person in Cocoon when we were kids. But here it is.

And with 50 is coming some great career success for our classmates. In May, Alejandro Colindres Frañó published a business advice book titled The Road to Champagne: 13 Principles to Drive Career Success. He has poured his experience as vice president of strategy for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits in Miami, FL, and previous decades of experience in the food and beverage industry, into this book, which provides a roadmap for individuals to set their mindset, build their brand, and be the driver of their careers and lives.

Not all success is career driven. Andrew Sobel didn’t even mention his work with national technology staffing and recruiting company the Brixton Group. But he is (rightfully!) proud of his work to make club sports accessible to all youth. He writes, “The price to play is enormous and creates barriers to entry for many kids. I helped start Matthews Mavericks, the first and only competitive club soccer program in Charlotte, NC, that is completely free.” And with that support, his athletes shine: “One of our teams ranked top 10 in the state, proving you don’t need to pay a ton of money to get great coaching results.” More info about the club (which operates as a charitable organization) can be found at its website.

Lisa DeLeo took the COVID lockdown as her cue to leave Los Angeles after 10 years there. She’s now in a small town in northern Arizona called Prescott and is still making films for individual and corporate clients at Chronicle Arts. She has also started volunteering at a local hospice organization, which gives her the joy of using her skills “to comfort, uplift, and inspire.”

Ingrid Kist-Leader is teaching and tutoring AP world history by day but derives even more satisfaction with “lots of traveling across the U.S. and to Iceland, glamping in unique places,” and spending time skiing, surfing, and traveling with her son “as he navigates all the joys of life.”

Momilani Nuuhiwa (formerly Michaelann Kim) is living her best life in Hawaii, where she is the owner and proprietor of Momilani Farm. The farm sits at an elevation of 1,500 feet along the ‘Āwehi River in Hilo, HI, and follows the notion that “when we take care of the ʻāina [land], the ʻāina will take care of us,” according to a blog post describing the farm. (Check it out here.) In addition to running the farm, she spends her time counseling and teaching and has even recently picked up woodcarving as a hobby.

This also seems to be the age where many of our classmates are sending their kids to college! Iris Marchante, MS ’98, works for the New York State Department of Health and proudly has two children at Cornell. Aziza is Class of 2024, and Cloe is Class of 2026.

Josh and Karen Ellis Varsano are celebrating 25 years of marriage by cycling through Tuscany and are getting ready to send their kids to college. This is a long way from when the pair met during Cornell orientation! Josh is leading business development for a hedge fund, while Karen is leading an interior design and staging business in addition to practicing real estate in Fairfield County, CT.

And don’t forget to reach out to your class correspondents! I hesitate to ask, but—who has their first grandkid? Who is getting ready to retire? What is next on the horizon for the Class of 1994? Let us know! ❖ Dineen Pashoukos Wasylik (email Dineen); Jennifer Rabin Marchant (email Jennifer); Dika Lam (email Dika). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1995

As the leaves are turning beautiful colors on campus, at the time of this writing I am still reminiscing about being there just 10 days ago, June 9–12, for Reunion 2022 and the Cornell University Chorus Centennial. It was so wonderful being back at Cornell, albeit bittersweet to watch the Class of 1997 have their 25th Reunion. I am very hopeful that we ’95ers can harness the enthusiasm we had for our 25th in three years for our 30th. The way I see it, the 30th will be our big milestone Reunion, so everyone mark your calendars now for June 5–8, 2025!

Those of you who follow our class in our Facebook group have already seen some of the changes to campus and Collegetown through photos I shared. Collegetown Bagels is across the street from its previous location, now next door to Sheldon Court, with plentiful outdoor seating both in the immediate courtyard and in front of the Schwartz Center. Where C-town Bagels once lived is now the Student Agencies Building—a little cold and industrial looking, IMO—but at least it houses Ithaca Beer on the ground floor.

Other things remaining in that area from our college days are few and far between. Just this past weekend, I was having brunch with Agnes Varga Wells and Jaclyn Goldstein and our daughters (Cornell Class of 2033!) and telling them which establishments were left. Rulloff’s? No longer. Dunbar’s? Sadly, gone, along with its jukebox and sticky floors. Aladdin’s? One of my all-time favorites, but nope. The Nines? Alas, we said goodbye to its pizza a few years back. We couldn’t name a single place, other than C-town Bagels and Fontana’s Shoes. It felt sad.

On campus, however, the progress being made looks great. The new dorms that I wrote about last summer housed their first group of freshmen this year (including several of our classmates’ children!). The Chorus had rehearsals and a lovely reception in Klarman Hall, which is attached to Goldwin Smith and now houses the Temple of Zeus; even though it opened back in 2016, it felt new to me. I’m sure there are many other improvements I am forgetting here.

Another change was that Cornelliana Night was moved from Bailey Hall to Schoellkopf Field. After the initial threat of a storm passed, it ended up being a gorgeous night. Schoellkopf allowed for so many more alumni to attend and feel safe doing so being outdoors, plus it allowed for the Big Red Band to join the Chorus and Glee Club in Cornell songs. Classmates joining in the musical festivities included J. Michael ’96 and Kathy Heppner Trogolo, Eric and Mary Wallace Hedman, and Todd Smith, as well as Joe Cleverdon ’98, BS ’15. I hope this joins goat yoga as a new Reunion tradition.

Oh, did I not mention the goat yoga? It was put on by CALS for its alumni—and it was at the top of my Reunion activities list, second only to the incredible Chorus centennial concert and a cappella arch sing with alumni from as far back as the 1950s. According to Scott Pesner ’87, the origin story is this conversation at a CALS alumni board meeting: Someone: “We need to think holistically.” Someone else: “Sounds like we’re doing yoga.” Scott to the dean: “Yeah, we should just do goat yoga at Reunion.” Dean to Scott: “I love it! Make it happen!”

The new dorms that I wrote about last summer housed their first group of freshmen this year (including several of our classmates’ children!).
Alison Torrillo French ’95

As such, Jessica Graus Woo ’93 and I got to place our mats next to CALS Dean Benjamin Houlton (in his Cornell sweats!) while goats of all ages, sizes, and colors roamed freely among the yogis, oftentimes climbing with abandon right onto our backs! It was exactly what I needed—you can catch a glimpse in this video recap (if you look hard you’ll spot me in two places!), and I also posted some photos to our class Facebook page.

A few other highlights not yet mentioned: Bill Nye ’77 returning for his 45th Reunion (and giving an inspiring talk at Schoellkopf) and our clever Chimesmasters Rickrolling the campus during a Clock Tower concert (video also on our FB page, if you feel like tricking your kids).

Now for some news from classmates deserving of kudos: On June 16, Nell Maloney Patel was promoted at Rutgers, making her the first woman full professor in the Department of Surgery at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “I am so grateful to my mentors, supporters, letter-writers, and family for helping me get to this point. And special thanks to the current colorectal team for blinging out my office and helping me celebrate in style,” writes Nell.

On May 1, Christian Cox ran the Pittsburgh Marathon—his first ever. Chris wrote, “The Fleet Feet training group had me incredibly well-prepared, and the support from family and friends was amazing. Now it’s time to pass out in the fetal position.” Back in spring 2021, James Bettles of Sacramento, CA, was married—belated congratulations, James!—and works in the development of data science and AI applications for industry, government, and retail companies.

A little further south in California, Brent Alspach, MS ’97, reports that he and his family are enjoying partial season tickets for their local MLB team, the San Diego Padres. Brent works in water supply and treatment research, and his daughter just started kindergarten. And returning back to the East Coast, this time in Massachusetts, James McCloskey sends news that he hosts a podcast called The Jimmy Daytona Show and would love to have some of his classmates on.

Until next time, stay connected and safe, classmates. ❖ Alison Torrillo French (email Alison). Class website. Class Facebook page. Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1996

Happy September, fellow ’96ers! Hopefully some of you have had or are about to embark on some needed vacation time, traveling abroad or staying local, to enjoy some rest and recharge your batteries.

Alison Derow Gaudet, a pediatrician in private practice, writes from Wallingford, PA, that she has enjoyed watching her older daughter compete for the Cornell equestrian team. Her younger daughter recently sang a cappella in Italy.

William Doll, BA ’02, writes that professionally he has been investing in agricultural and clean technology solutions. In his spare time, he has gotten back into Tae Kwon Do and sends a shout-out to Master Han Cho ’89 at Cornell.

That is all the news for now! Please send us your life updates, big and small. We love to hear from you! ❖ Catherine Oh Bonita (email Catherine); Janine Abrams Rethy (email Janine); Marjorie Polycarpe Jean-Paul (email Marjorie). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1997

It is hard to believe that this summer marked 25 years since we sat in Schoellkopf in the rain and officially completed our Cornell undergrad journey. While in some ways it feels like just yesterday, the progress on campus and in Collegetown reminds us that change is inevitable, whether we like it or not!

It was great to see so many classmates on the Hill in June celebrating our 25th Reunion! We would like to give a special shout-out to our amazing Reunion chairs, Eva Chiamulera, MA ’00, and Joshua Steiner, MS ’98, who have brought our class fabulous events for the last 25 years. They may be stepping down, but planning a Reunion in a post-COVID society is a challenge that will not be forgotten. It was unknown until this spring whether Reunion would be in person or not. Yet, despite short notice, we were able to enjoy our headquarters in the brand new (opened fall 2021) Ganędagǫ Hall, featuring suites and multiple lounge spaces on each floor. We had delicious dinners at the Arboretum and in the new North Campus dining hall, Morrison Dining. My kids were big fans of the build-your-own pasta bar there! While Collegetown Bagels may have moved across the street, it didn’t stop it from being a hot spot all weekend—certainly, my family ate there many times.

We would like to take a minute to send out some additional thanks: to all our class officers who finished their terms this year, we know it wasn’t easy leading this group during the past few years, but thank you for keeping our class as one of your priorities; to our class president, Donell Hicks, who does a great job keeping our Facebook page humming and up to date; to my co-correspondent, Erica Broennle Nelson, who has made sure to share all your news since day one; to all those that made the effort to return to campus, often with families in tow, so we could get to know new classmates and reconnect with old. This Reunion weekend is made by our classmates, no matter where we stay or what we eat. We all have the bond of surviving to get a degree from an amazing institution.

We know with COVID uncertainty and family graduations starting to loom, planning to attend this year was challenging. We hope you will all mark your calendars for June 10–13, 2027 and join us for our 30th Reunion! ❖ Sarah Deardorff Carter (email Sarah); Erica Broennle Nelson (email Erica). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

1998

As I am writing this column in mid-June 2022, I realize that by this time next year, we, the Class of 1998, will have celebrated graduating a quarter of a century earlier, at our 25th Reunion in 2023. Are you looking forward to returning to your Big Red home to celebrate, reminisce, and make new memories? We hope to see you and your families there!

Congratulations to Demian Ahn, who joined the premier law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in May 2022, as of counsel in the Washington, DC, office of the firm’s privacy and cybersecurity practice. Regarded as a national cybersecurity specialist, Demian served as Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia for more than 11 years, conducting investigations and prosecuting high-profile cases involving data privacy and threats to national cybersecurity. He earned his JD from the University of Michigan Law School.

As always, we want to hear from you, so please fill out an online news form and tell us how you are doing, or email: ❖ Uthica Jinvit Utano (email Uthica). Alumni Directory.

1999

“I am in the process of purchasing the company I have worked at for 12 years,” writes Brett Baker. He’s president and partner of United Apple Sales, a worldwide marketer of fresh apples and other fruits. What brings him the most satisfaction these days? “My children and their accomplishments in school and with their sports.”

Laca Wong-Hammond never imagined that she and Scott would leave their SoHo loft in NYC, but they did just that when they moved to a house on eight acres in New Hampshire! Laca reports that she has traded shopping and lounges in the city for daily runs, hikes, and bike rides. She is the head of mergers and acquisitions, covering healthcare and housing, at Lument. Laca enjoys spending quality time with family (“My 5-year-old son enjoys fishing and his Montessori school,” she writes) as well as fulfilling clients’ objectives in a sale of their business. ❖ Class of 1999 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

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Classes of the 2000s

2000

As always, Cornellians have been busy impacting and changing the world around them.

Congratulations to Rachel Helfeld Gonzalez, who was honored by the Executive Women of New Jersey (EWNJ) as a recipient of the Salute to the Policy Makers Award, during EWNJ’s gala dinner May 3, 2022, at the Palace at Somerset Park in Somerset, NJ.

Rachel is a partner in the employment and labor practice group at Day Pitney LLP. She was recognized for her trailblazing professional achievements and her efforts toward advancing women’s leadership. She received her JD with honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where she participated in the Asylum and Human Rights Legal Clinic; she earned her BS from the ILR School. You can view the full list of trailblazing policy makers for more information. ❖ Denise Williams (email Denise). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

2001

Greetings from the Pacific Northwest! My husband, Salil Gupte, our two kids, and I have just touched down for our first “non-evacuation” summer break since moving to Delhi three years ago. By the time you read this, we will hopefully have enjoyed a reasonably sunny summer and be several weeks into the 2022–23 school year. Whether that still requires a combination of masking, social distancing, temperature checks, and rapid tests, we are truly grateful that our global network of family and friends, plus modern technology, have allowed us to stay connected and keep our family’s education and careers going, in and out of COVID times.

Upon arriving at our Seattle home base, we were greeted by the usual pile of snail mail—including an invitation for me to join the Cornell University Council for a four-year term! (Really glad I didn’t accidentally recycle this!) Thank you to in-house experts Nathan Connell and Claire Ackerman for answering my questions; more info is available here. After recovering from my initial excitement, I’ve decided to take the option to defer for one year, so that I’ll be more available to physically attend the campus events (much trickier from Delhi than from Seattle or Northern Virginia, which are the most likely next destinations on Salil’s Boeing flight path) rather than Zooming in across time and space. We really need those in-person meetings, after two and a half years of screens, amirite?

Virtual connection does have its perks, however. For example, keeping up with our classmates. After my fellow class correspondent, James Gutow, sent out a final reminder that our class BrightCrowd site was being closed to further edits (to preserve our 20th Reunion as a time capsule), we got a rush of new and updated entries. Check them out—you can even search by location, areas of expertise, etc. Here’s a small sample:

Nick Barras is in London, England, working as commercial director at the Ministry of Defence and married to a fellow Cornellian. His favorite memories are “the Mary Donlon crew, the Mundial football road trips, language house friends, Thurston Ave., and the SAFC deliberations.”

I can’t believe I’m already thinking of Cornell from a prospective parent’s view!
Hyunjoo Bae ’01

Laura Jordan-Smith lives with her husband, Matt, in Auckland, NZ, continuing her post-grad career of studying and teaching marine science and conservation around the world. She fondly remembers “all of the fun times with the 504/124 ladies, summers at SML, and many afternoons and weekends at the track.”

Textiles and apparel classmates Malinda Lovic Lesko and Hyunjoo Bae have signed in from Easthampton, MA, and NYC, respectively. Malinda lives with her husband, Ben, and their rescue pittie, Penny, and writes, “I spent a lot of pandemic lockdown time sewing masks, especially for the Easthampton Fire Department (where Ben is a paramedic/firefighter) and our local hospitals. I also learned that running in the rain and snow can actually be enjoyable—and many days even became preferable. I’ve been a fiber enthusiast as long as I can remember, but in more recent years have become especially fond of knitting, spinning, and weaving. I have been designing some handknit patterns and hope to start publishing them soon.”

Hyunjoo, who works in children’s wear, writes, “I have never left New York, even after leaving Cornell in 2001. I have been working in the garment industry ever since 2002. I have 16- and 10-year-old daughters and a 13-year-old son. I can’t believe I’m already thinking of Cornell from a prospective parent’s view!”

Running out of space here, but it’s worth perusing the BrightCrowd pages for Gustave Alberti in Southlake, TX; Omar Blayton and Brian Hirsch in NYC; Brian Garland, ME ’02, in San Diego, CA; Jenn Gorman Memmott in Weston, MA; Rajat Khanna in Kingston, Jamaica; Lenny Lesser in Oakland, CA; Kyle McKenna in Richmond, VA; and Margarita Pajaro in West New York, NJ.

And via email update, congrats to Jeff Ting on his first novel, a dystopian YA fantasy featuring Asian characters called Dawn of Deoridium. Check it out—and write a review!—on Amazon and Goodreads, and learn more about Jeff and what he’s been up to at his website.

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

2002

Autumn greetings, Class of ’02! Please take a moment to let us know how you spent your summer! Did any of you attend our Reunion? If so, let us know how it went! We’d love to live vicariously through you. ❖ Class of 2002 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

2003

Sarah Doherty shared, “After running the Ferris State University LGBTQ+ Resource Center in Big Rapids, MI, for three and a half years, I said goodbye to my students and colleagues in May 2022. I’ve been working since January 2022 as the assistant director of the LGBT Center at Ohio University in Athens, OH, which is almost as hilly as Ithaca! I’ve also been elected as the board president of Nolose, a fat liberation organization for queer and trans people, after serving on the board for almost 10 years—which I will actually be able to concentrate on when I only have one job!”

Sarah added, “My partner of almost 16 years, Dr. Stefanie Snider, will be joining me in Athens after the end of this semester. And my sister made us weird queer aunts again—her toddlers now have twin baby sisters!” Sarah concluded, “I really enjoy supervising social work interns who are planning to work in queer and trans equity and justice work and/or LGBTQ direct service. I’m also enjoying the space I have in my new role for disability justice education and community organizing.” Thank you for the update and best wishes in your new role in Athens!

Daniel Malone wrote in to tell us that he’s “designing and managing ecosystem restoration projects for Stantec,” but what really keeps him busy is “raising three amazing daughters.” Daniel added that his daughters are “active in theater and soccer.” In his “spare” time, he’s training for races and triathlons. Daniel concluded by sharing that his hobbies are “woodworking and woodturning,” and he finds satisfaction in “relaxing with friends and family and growing as much produce as I can in our garden.” We wish you a successful harvest this fall and all the best with your family activities!

We look forward to hearing about the great things our classmates are doing via news and notes submissions; until then, all the best. ❖ Jon Schoenberg (email Jon); Candace Lee Chow (email Candace). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

2004

Hello, Class of 2004! We enjoy good news and catch-ups from classmates.

Renee Wohltman is a physician assistant in the ER. She and spouse Maria Genouzos live in Westfield, NJ. Renee recently picked up Latin dancing!

Monica Pham currently works in public policy and government affairs for Biogen, a neuroscience company. She recently visited her former boss, the first female Vice President, Kamala Harris, at the White House! Monica recently married Jonathan DiBartolomeo in Washington, DC. She enjoys seeing friends and family in person after the pandemic-induced social isolation. Monica also learned to golf, knit, and make stained glass, and she enjoys fundraising for women running for higher office!

Charlotte “Lottie” Sweeney, PhD ’13, works as a mental health counselor at Family and Children’s Counseling Services in Cortland, NY. She earned her PhD in human development from Cornell in 2013, her MDiv from Union Theological Seminary in NYC in 2016, and her MSW from Binghamton University in 2019. She enjoys working with people and reading.

Send your news our way. Thanks! Enjoy the read. ❖ Jessi Petrosino (email Jessi). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

2005

Hello, Class of 2005! I hope all of you are well and staying healthy. Many of you are on the move! Here are a few updates from our fellow classmates.

DeVon Prioleau has established himself as a leader in delivering multi-phased, multi-million-dollar real estate programs and projects. He is a director at MACRO, a Savills Company, as well as managing principal of Pri-O-Leau Development Group. DeVon blends his two areas of formal study, architecture and real estate development, to provide strategic planning to organizations in both the private and public sectors. He practices “true inclusion” of underrepresented professionals in the real estate industry. In addition, he is the newly appointed president of the Council of Urban Real Estate.

Katie Button was recently the recipient of the prestigious James Beard Award. Her Asheville restaurant, Cúrate, won for Outstanding Hospitality. This award not only recognizes outstanding public-facing service, but also highlights a restaurant that makes “efforts to provide a sustainable work culture.” ❖ Hilary Johnson King (email Hilary); Jessica Rosenthal Chod (email Jessica). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

2006

Hello, Class of 2006! I hope you and your families had a wonderful summer enjoying a little more daylight in your lives and getting out on those beautiful summer nights. We’re pleased to share the latest news with you around the class.

Elijah Reichlin-Melnick is currently serving in his first term as a New York State senator, representing the 38th District, which covers parts of Rockland and Westchester counties. Elijah was elected in 2020 and is running for re-election this year. “It is constantly exciting work, and it is deeply rewarding to have the opportunity to be able to introduce legislation and vote on major bills that are making a positive difference in the lives of millions of New Yorkers.” Elijah and his wife, Shelley, got married late in 2020, in a small outdoor ceremony. Today they are happily living in Nyack, NY.

Nicole Liao moved to the beautiful valleys of Cappadocia, Turkey, managing a boutique travel agency and working as a commercial hot-air balloon pilot and licensed tour guide. Nicole loves spending time with her dogs and riding horses.

Stephanie Whitehouse, product manager for global breeding company Dümmen Orange, is loving her “#dreamjob” in the breeding and supply side of the horticulture industry. Stephanie has been busy planning a wedding and purchasing an 1820s home in the historic district of Baldwinsville, NY. What gives her the most satisfaction these days is raising her daughter, taking time for herself, and attending Cornell hockey and Syracuse Crunch games with her fiancé.

Nova McCune Cadamatre enjoys working for herself full time, managing her winery and tasting room at Trestle 31 in Geneva, NY, recently relocated from Napa. Nova also enjoys watching her kids enjoy their new home. Sounds wonderful!

Jared Davis is working as an associate professor of plastic surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. These days, he enjoys post-pandemic travel and lots of golf!

Updates on the career front! Dia Beshara is working as a New York Air National Guard LC-130 pilot, flying researchers around Antarctica and Greenland for the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Antarctic Program. Adam Sasiadek is working as an attorney editor for Thomson Reuters Practical Law. In keeping with his ILR education, he writes about the law of employee benefits and executive compensation.

Summer Rej founded a hair accessories company, Dauphines of New York, which is sold across high-end boutiques in the U.S. and online. Nipun Nath, BS ’05 (Boston, MA) is enjoying working in real estate and would be happy to connect with alumni in the area.

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

2007

Hello, Class of 2007! Well, our 15th Reunion was a lovely weekend! Did you have a chance to join in? Who did you reconnect with? What new buildings caught your eye on campus? Let me know!

I enjoyed watching the live stream of Bill Nye ’77’s talk during Reunion weekend. I caught Shane Dunn having a chat with the “Science Guy” during the question-and-answer session. As expected, Bill reminded us all to continue learning and keep an open mind while doing so.

Global law firm Goodwin announced that Konstantin Shishkin has been appointed its chief communications officer. In this role, Konstantin will be responsible for overseeing all creative marketing and communications strategies for the firm and its clients. Konstantin joined Goodwin in January 2015 as the director of communications. He has elevated the firm’s brand to help establish it in new geographies, among other initiatives. Prior to joining Goodwin, Konstantin led communications campaigns for financial and professional services companies, both in-house at a leading life insurance company and at a multinational investment bank.

Jennifer D’Amato-Anderson was promoted to senior wildlife nutritionist at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in the latter part of 2021. Sounds like an awesome role!

Lauren Trakimas Frye lives in Brentwood, TN, with her husband, Brooks, and their son. She started her first job as an attending vascular surgeon at Nashville Vascular and Vein Institute. She enjoys her time with her family and working out.

Maria Adelmann authored How to Be Eaten, which was named a “Best Book of May” by TIME Magazine and Glamour. This darkly funny and provocative novel reimagines classic fairy tale characters as modern women in a support group for trauma. Find more info here. I can’t wait to check this out!

Thanks for the awesome updates, 2007! Have more news to share? Please feel free to reach out to me or submit using the online news form. ❖ Samantha Feibush Wolf (email Samantha). Alumni Directory.

2008

Alina Lane has been running a multimillion-dollar dental practice in the heart of Manhattan, where she enjoys being able to give patients full-mouth makeovers with implants and veneers. Alina loves spending time with family and old friends, and adds, “Zac and I welcomed a wonderful baby girl last year and are enjoying watching her grow up.”

Nurse practitioner Delana Spaulding reports that she gets the most satisfaction from her family—which includes new baby Louise and Frederick, 4. Allison Wing was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor at Florida State University. Congratulations!

Kelly Sullivan is now director of lab operations at CIC Philadelphia, the operator of a co-working space with labs and offices for life sciences companies. In this role, her aim is to build and lead a “strong team that seamlessly handles the details, so our scientists can spend every minute focused on discovery.” Kelly spent the past five years in the rapidly growing legalized cannabis industry.

We’d love to hear from you, so please send in your news! We want all of your updates—let us know about major life changes or how you spent the summer. ❖ Libby Boymel (email Libby); Elana Beale (email Elana). Alumni Directory.

2009

Samuel Levine is the lead education strategist for a startup focused on professional learning at home, called Hone. “I’m married and father of Jonah, now turning 1, and I live in Park Slope with my wonderful spouse, Talia Gutin.” Samuel gets great satisfaction from hanging with his family, which includes father Michael Levine ’78.

Matthew Gizzo is a labor and employment attorney at the law firm Ogletree Deakins. He shares that his brother and sister-in-law are expecting their first child. Matthew gets great satisfaction from golf and spending time with his fiancée, Alycia, and their two Siberian huskies, Mack and Bailey. Ben Lewis is VP, corporate strategy, data science, and analytics for Spirit Airlines. He writes, “Ji Young Choi and I are expecting our first child!”

Allison Weingarten has been working from home, “combining my passions of workers’ rights with addiction and mental health recovery. I work for MDB Inc. It is a consulting firm that, among other things, supports the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Worker Training Program.” Allison recently took up gardening, which she enjoys doing with her daughter.

Jason Battle is co-owner, along with Alex Kresovich ’08 and one other partner, of the Cut Buddy—a personal grooming company started in Ithaca. Initially founded in 2015, the company went viral in 2016 when a video of an influencer using the Shaping Tool product garnered 12 million views on Facebook. As a result, the Shaping Tool quickly became a bestseller on Amazon. This success led to features in GQ and Forbes and eventually an appearance on ABC’s hit show “Shark Tank” in 2017. The Cut Buddy has since expanded with other personal grooming products designed inclusively with multicultural users and users with a disability in mind—and the Shaping Tool is now in over a million homes worldwide.

Have news to share? Please feel free to reach out to me or submit online! ❖ Jason Georges (email Jason). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

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Classes of the 2010s

2010

Congratulations to Rebekah Victory Falcone Toews, who writes, “We welcomed a son into our family in October, Ivan Darrow.”

We look forward to hearing news from the rest of you! Happy autumn, everyone. ❖ Michelle Sun (email Michelle). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

2011

Trademark attorney Amy Abeloff never imagined she’d be living on the West Coast, but she’s doing just that, in Los Angeles. She’s also picked up a new hobby, hot yoga, and reports, “I had a baby, Penelope, who turned 1 in May!”

Maryam Ahmed enjoys gardening and running her own business, Maryam + Company. “I work with wineries and wine organizations to create educational programs for staff, consumers, and industry members. My clients are committed to diversity and sustainability. I work at the intersection of a lot of people with big ideas: chefs, sommeliers, advocates, global media, marketing pros, etc. I’m often the hub of a big wheel. A wine and cooking competition show that I am a cast member of, SOMM TV’s ‘Sparklers,’ was recently nominated for a James Beard Award.” What brings her the most satisfaction these days? “Seeing change in the food and wine industries that will eventually lead to a more sustainable approach to work and innovation.”

Madison Meyer writes, “I am the director of investor relations at a venture capital firm and really enjoying it. I also love playing golf!” ❖ Class of 2011 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

2012

Classmates gathered in Ithaca in June to celebrate our 10th Reunion, which included lots of fun events, like delicious dinners from some of our favorite Ithaca spots, Cornelliana Night, a talk by Bill Nye ’77, and time with friends from near and far. Reunion co-chairs Andrew Martinez and Cindy Marinaro, ME ’13, and registration chair Kendra Bartell Saldana worked hard to ensure a great weekend was had by all. And Ithaca’s weather mainly cooperated as well!

Phil and Annabel Fowler Gatto were not able to make it to campus for Reunion this year due to work, but they shared some updates. They are currently based in Greenwich, CT, where they moved last July right before their daughter, Nell, was born. ❖ Peggy Ramin (email Peggy). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

2013

Election Day is coming up, which means two things in my world: 1) that incessant reminder to my friends and family to exercise their franchise; and 2) a chance to report the news of our ever-impressive classmates who have chosen to pursue a career in service.

For the purposes of this column, I won’t bore you with #1 (though let this be your friendly nudge to get out there and vote!), and instead will regale you with #2.

Our very own class officer Alex Bores secured the Democratic nomination this past June for New York State Legislature to represent portions of the Upper East Side of Manhattan (Assembly District 73), defeating four other candidates in the race. As a good Cornellian, Alex knows the importance of the relationship between our University (the land-grant university of New York) and the state—and he expects to deal with issues impacting Cornell should he be elected this November. Learn more about his platform here. Politics aside, we are very proud of Alex for his victory in his first-ever run for office.

If you have news to share, please fill out an online news form or email me: ❖ Rachael Schuman (email Rachael). Alumni Directory.

2014

I hope this column finds you well. Please take a moment to let us know how you spent your summer! If you have anything you’d like to share with our class, please submit an online news form or write to me: ❖ Samantha Lapehn Young (email Samantha). Alumni Directory.

2015

Hi, everyone! We hope everyone who was able to come to Reunion had a wonderful time, and we’re looking forward to a ton of fun events this summer! We have heard from many of our classmates about what they are up to now and would love to hear from you too!

Our very own class correspondent Caroline Flax got married June 25 to her non-Cornellian partner, Mike Ganz, in Washington, DC, with several friends from the Class of 2015: Haley Velasco, Katie Morin, Jacob Ross, Samantha Weisman, David Fischer, Rachel Gerber, Rachel Soclof Portman ’14, BS ’15, Kate Donatiello, Andrea Levin, and Bella Herold. Congratulations, Caroline!

Corinne Weyrauch is working as a research and development engineer at Boston Scientific. In her spare time, she’s an alpine ski racer and has been exploring Minnesota’s state parks between home improvement projects. Meghan Horne Kulak received an MD and is in a residency in general adult psychiatry. Ephrath Tesfaye is working as a scientist in biopharma after recently finishing up a PhD in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology at Yale University. She adds, “I never would have gone down the research path if it hadn’t been for a serendipitous summer internship I got through the Office of Undergraduate Biology my sophomore year at Cornell.”

Lastly, Andrew Boseman says, “Over the last seven years, I have immersed myself in the world of tech, serving in several roles across operations, client services, and product. After spending nearly six years at Yext, where I finished as a senior client success manager for some of our top enterprise accounts, I am now serving as a product manager for a technology company called Lyte, where I am responsible for the research and development for some of our event promoter tools. Alongside that, I have embarked on a journey to start my own technology company, which I hope to tell you more about soon!” ❖ Mateo Acebedo (email Mateo); Caroline Flax (email Caroline). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

2016

Happy fall, classmates! Anyone picked up a new hobby recently? Or marked any career or personal milestones? If you have anything you’d like to share with our class, please submit an online news form or write to me: ❖ Meghan McCormick (email Meghan). Alumni Directory.

2017

If you’re anything like us, this time of year makes you think of the start of a new semester on the Hill. What are your plans for the fall? Are any of you venturing out of town to travel? Or marking any career milestones? If you have anything you’d like to share with our class, please submit an online news form or send us an email: ❖ Class of 2017 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12). Alumni Directory.

2018

Hey, Class of 2018! This month we have news from Sydney Mann, who graduated with a degree in American Studies.

Sydney is currently pursuing a master’s in oral history at Columbia, where she studies communication in relation to systems of privilege and oppression. This past year, she interviewed descendants of lynching victims and anti-lynching activists in partnership with the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project. She was inspired to pursue her degree by her participation in the Intergroup Dialogue Project (IDP) at Cornell, as both a student and facilitator. “The relationships and community I built with students and peers were transformative to my understanding of self,” she said. “Through unpacking my own privilege and how to dialogue effectively as both a teacher and learner, I realized what it really meant to become an ally toward social justice.”

After graduating from Cornell, Sydney spent fall 2018 working for IDP full time, which she credits with helping her get over her “post-grad slump” and identify what she wanted to do with her career. Her plan after she finishes her master’s is to enter the field of ethnography or public interviewing, and to continue being an ally for social justice in media. She also wants to give a shoutout to Nothing But Treble, Cornell’s first all-female a cappella group!

That’s it for this month! If you or a classmate are doing something cool, let me know: ❖ Stephanie Yan (email Stephanie). Alumni Directory. Share your news here.

2019

Autumn greetings, Class of ’19! Please take a moment to let us know how you spent your summer! If you have anything you’d like to share with our class, please submit an online news form or write directly to: ❖ Class of 2019 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12). Alumni Directory.

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Classes of the 2020s

2020

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Grad Notes

Agriculture & Life Sciences

As an Independent Senator of Barbados, Chelston Brathwaite, PhD ’70, has crafted a new “integrated food security plan” for the country. According to Chelston, the unstable global economic situation has highlighted the vulnerability of Barbados and other small island developing states, particularly in the area of food and energy security. His plan includes having all available arable land be put into agriculture, doing a review of the island’s land use policy, and having agriculture and food security become a mandatory subject in schools.

Last year, Gene Helfman, PhD ’79, published Beyond the Human Realm, which chronicles the life of Makai, a male orca captured in the North Atlantic and held in a marine park until he becomes a liability. Slated for euthanasia, Makai is rescued and rehabilitated by a whale biologist and others who work to unite him with a pod of killer whales. Published by Luminare Press, this novel received the 2022 National Indie Excellence Award.

Michael Fey, PhD ’80, launched a new not-for-profit corporation, the Institute for Silver Dollar Education and Research. He’s also senior instructor at the American Numismatic Association (ANA) Summer Seminar and author of several numismatic books, an Amazon Kindle book, and about 15 other books about silver dollars. Michael gets great satisfaction from travel and adventure; he trekked up Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2010, up Machu Picchu in 2012, and to Mt. Everest Base Camp in 2015 at age 65. He writes, “I finished seventh in the world in backstroke at the FINA World Masters Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, at age 68. A few weeks ago, I won two silver medals in freestyle and backstroke and two bronze medals in breaststroke and butterfly at the National Senior Games in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, at age 72. And this past year, I broke nine all-time New Jersey State records in various strokes and distances.”

Nyaneba Nkrumah, PhD ’01, writes, “I’m excited to let you know that I’m about to publish an adult fiction novel, Wade in the Water (Amistad HarperCollins, January 2023). It’s a gripping coming-of-age story set in the 1980s about the increasingly complex relationship between a mistreated Black girl growing up in 1980s rural Mississippi and a mysterious white researcher from Princeton who appears in her racially divided town. The novel exposes the consequences of secrets left untold and the power of the past to dictate the future. Visit my website to read more details. In other news, I continue to work (20-plus years) for the World Bank in Washington, DC, where I have met, not surprisingly, several amazing fellow Cornellians.”

Arts & Sciences

Clara Rodríguez, MS ’69, writes, “My book, America, As Seen on TV: How Television Shapes Immigrant Expectations Around the Globe, was published in 2018 and was also awarded an International Latino Book Award.”

From 1974–81, Leslie Sponsel, PhD ’81, conducted trips to the Venezuelan Amazon to study biological and cultural aspects of ecology of the Yanomami Indigenous people. Now, his newest book, Yanomami in the Amazon (2022), provides a systematic and thorough historical perspective on these people, including scandals and controversies surrounding a few of the numerous anthropologists who have researched them. Leslie studied Biological Anthropology on the Hill and is now professor emeritus at the University of Hawaii.

Vicente Rafael, PhD ’84, is a professor of history and Southeast Asian studies at the University of Washington. He has several books in print, including his most recent, The Sovereign Trickster (2022), as well as Motherless Tongues (2016), The Promise of the Foreign (2005), White Love and Other Events in Filipino History (2000), and Contracting Colonialism (1992).

Colin Macleod, PhD ’93, has received the American Philosophical Association’s Israel Scheffler Prize in Philosophy of Education. This award is given out every third year for either a book or a connected set of three or more papers on a topic in philosophy of education. Colin is a professor of law and philosophy and chair of the philosophy department at the University of Victoria. His research focuses on issues in contemporary moral, political, and legal theory with a focus on distributive justice and equality; children, families, and justice; and democratic ethics.

Marquis Bey, PhD ’19, is an assistant professor of African American studies and English at Northwestern University—and has published five books before their 30th birthday. Their most recent book, Cistem Failure (Duke University Press, August 2022), centers around the antagonistic relationship between Blackness and cisgender.

Engineering

Suchi Garikapati Deshpande, MEE ’05, is a co-founder of Learnfully, a personalized learning platform based in Silicon Valley that caters to non-traditional learners—whether they have behavioral, attention, or anxiety issues or are special needs students. With one in five students diagnosed with learning differences, Suchi aims to use technology to help neurodiverse students and their parents navigate their educational journey. She and her husband, Amol Deshpande, MBA ’05, met on a blind date at Rulloff’s! Amol is CEO and founder of Farmers Business Network; he also runs his own venture capital firm that invests in companies helping neurodivergent learners.

Industrial & Labor Relations

Debra Turner-Bailey, MS ’90, has joined multimedia news organization WFAE as chief people officer. In this role, she will manage policies regarding employment, compensation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She completed one year of service on WFAE’s board of directors before resigning to join the staff. Before this, Debra spent more than 20 years with Corning Inc., where she worked in human resources and served as global diversity officer. She is on the boards of Children’s Homes of Iredell County, Speak Life and Live, Circle of Giving, and the Statesville, NC, branch of the NAACP.

Johnson Graduate School of Management

Arthur Ray, MPS ’74, writes, “The years have been good, fruitful, and productive since leaving Cornell in ’74. I’ve been married to Jo Ann for 47 years; we have three children and now seven grandchildren. During the years, I have pursued two different and distinct careers: 30-plus years in hospital and health services administration in both the private and public arena; and, at the same time and now for almost 75 years, a legacy ranching/farming/timber enterprise spanning 150-plus years. I’m now retired from one career but never completely retired from the legacy career; we now divide our time between the ranching operation in Pawnee, OK, and our seasonal retreat in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico (Eagle Nest, NM). Blessings and best wishes to my classmates, faculty, and staff from the former Business and Public Administration (BPA) school. I look forward to our 50th Reunion in 2024. Go Big Red!”

Last May, Zhu Shen, MBA ’98, organized a film screening and panel discussion for the Cornell community titled “Restoring Family Bonds through Storytelling and Vulnerability.” Participants watched her film, Journey of a Thousand Miles, which was edited by her son, Perry Chen. The discussion that followed explored family estrangement and reconciliation, intergenerational family relationships and caregiving, and parent-child relationships.

Melika Jahangiri, MBA ’17, works within the electric vehicle space at Cummins, primarily focusing on heavy-duty, medium-duty, and low-voltage vehicles. She is critical in helping Cummins reach its Destination Zero goal by 2050. Recently, Melika was named a “Power Player” by Business Insider, as one of 30 leaders who are working to “usher the automotive industry into its electrified future.”

Law School

Garion Liberti, JD ’19, has joined Foran Glennon’s New York office as an associate, concentrating his practice in property insurance coverage matters. Before joining the firm, he was an associate at a New York litigation firm, where he gained experience drafting initial and amended complaints, motions, stipulations, litigation, and settlement demand letters in addition to attending and participating in mediations and settlement hearings.

Anna Radke, LLM ’20, recently won a Luxury Law Award in the category of “Rising Star, Private Practice.” She is a New York-based managing associate at Brand Counsel, helping clients through their entrepreneurial journey on issues related to intellectual property, commercial transactions, contract, corporate, and employment law. “When I moved to the U.S. as a 19-year-old graduate of a public high school in Poland,” she says, “I could not imagine that I would become an attorney in New York, fighting for my clients’ rights against some of the most talented attorneys in the world.”

To be included in a future Grad Notes section, email us your news.

Top image: Photo by Cornell University

Published September 1, 2022