Class of 1977

This was an extraordinary reunion. Jim Guth, our reunion chairman, had a single-minded focus and an attention to detail that astounded everybody. He was assisted by the Dynamic Duo, outgoing class president Nancy Parssinen Vespoli and incoming class president Dee Dee Granzow Simpson. (More on La D.D. below.) Event planner Lucy Townsend decorated the tent in fabulous fashion. Susan Dentzer moderated a panel with our very own President Phil Hanlon. John Donvan moderated another that offered an amazing look at the challenges many have faced. The only criticism was that there were too many great activities. Here’s an assortment from the news menu. 

Mark Carlie and wife Marie recently renewed their 15-year vows in the Bema. It remains magical: Mark and Marie are walking around with stars in their eyes. Kevin Carlie has a beard. Alright, it’s a little gray, but finally we can tell the two of them apart!

Dave Wood’s business continues to thrive. He’s in all 50 states, has pretty much conquered South America and is headed to the Far East. What does he do? When Dave first told me, he made me promise not to laugh. Readers should adhere to the same standard. Dave runs the world’s largest school—for wedding planners.

After 20 years in marketing and 16 years as an executive recruiter, Connie Milender Goebel turned her back on the corporate world to follow her passion. She founded Be HeartWired and now offers self-care programming for caregivers, especially those with aging parents. She also teaches Qigong, a 5,000-year-old Chinese mind-body practice that uses breath and gentle movement to cultivate our “life energy.”

Gentleman farmer Brian Deevy was in the news as “a giant pumpkin hobbyist.” As the Denver Zoo prepared for its Boo at the Zoo event, Brian donated two 600-pound pumpkins for Bodhi, a 12-year-old Asian elephant, to crush. Or as reported, “squish the squashes.” (I couldn’t begin to make this up.)

Incoming class president Dee Dee Granzow Simpson is midway through her “year of saying yes.” Inspired by the book by Shonda Rhimes ’91, Dee Dee is agreeing to all the (legal and moral) proposals coming her way. That’s how we landed her as president.

Both of my co-secretaries crumped at the last minute and missed reunion. Drew Kintzinger’s daughter beseeched dear old dad to spend Father’s Day with her. An old Japanese client of financier Eric Edmondson couldn’t face his corporate crisis without Eric by his side. There are worse problems.

This reunion was so amazing that a mini-reunion is already in the works for 2020 to celebrate our 65th birthdays. Santa Fe, New Mexico, here we come!

Although these stories are light-hearted, please understand that something special occurred in Hanover. Everybody has a happy story to share. Most of us have scars though too, right beneath the surface. Life hasn’t been perfect. Call a classmate you haven’t seen in a while. Set aside some time. Work to get to the real deal. It will be worth the trouble.

—Robin Gosnell, 31 Elm Lane, Princeton, NJ 08540; robins.nest@icloud.com; Eric Edmondson, Signal Hill Capital LLC, 425 California St., Suite 19, San Francisco, CA 94104; eweedmondson@gmail.com; Drew Kintzinger, 2400 M St. NW, Apt. 914, Washington, DC 20037; akintzinger@hunton.com