Class of 1977

Santa Fe, New Mexico: Save the date and mark your calendars, diaries, and agendas and file a float plan to attend our communal 70th birthday bash in Santa Fe August 20-24, 2025. Party chairpeople Ted Lapres and Amy Cholnoky, along with many fun organizers are counting on us all to show up and show Santa Fe how much fun can be had by a bunch of aging but game septuagenarians. Go to dar7mou7h.com for latest details and watch your inbox for registration announcement.

Our own wonder doc Dan Lucey continues his award-winning ways, having recently received this in his inbox: “Dear Dan, the division of institutional diversity and equity at Dartmouth is thrilled to announce that you have been chosen as the recipient of the 2024 Lester B. Granger ’18 Award honoring your extraordinary work and dedication as an international infectious disease specialist focusing on the intersection of infectious diseases and historically marginalized populations. It also recognizes your tireless work calling on governments and international bodies to do more and be better prepared in the face of global health epidemics.” Congratulations, Dan! You are, once again, “The Man”!

In the small world department, George Shackelford recently acquired a 19th-century home down the way in our little seaside hamlet. He no sooner passed home inspection when who should appear to ratify his choice? None other than class arbiters of taste and domesticity David and Dee Dee Simpson, Robin Gosnell, Nancy Vespoli and the much-feted Betsy Fauver Stueber (recently honored in N.Y.C. and inducted into the Mandel Society for her enduring commitment to Dartmouth undergraduates through visionary fundraising leadership). Of course, this conspicuous group of luminaries could not hide their shining ’77 lights from me and thus a raucous, yet dignified party ensued, much fun was had, and only one cannon was blasted (at sunset). To intensify the ’77ness of the crowd we tried to recruit George’s neighbor Julie Nelson (the sister of Richard Brynteson); being a sensible lass hailing from Harvard, she wanted none of our shabby shenanigans. Partially remiss in our ’77 duties on their inaugural visit, we took a pledge for their follow-up visit to venture to our official ’77 brewery True North Ales a mere 11 miles away to cavort with Gary Rodgers in the flesh and Rory Laughna in spirit(s).

Jay MacNamee, who penned that poetic paean to Rob Kemeny in an earlier column, writes “My audiobook for children with disfluency, The Stuttering Magician (in which I channel Ted Geisel ’25) is now available for downloads at major outlets. Although I’ve written several plays, screenplays, poems, songs, and ungodly amounts of marketing materials, this is my first book. I created the original version decades ago as a gift for my niece and nephew. Proceeds benefit the National Stuttering Association.” Our stutterer-in-chief is bound to be proud of you, Jay!

Send news and pics. Not getting class communications? Call the alumni help desk at (603) 646-3202 to update your email or forwarding address.

—A.P. Duffy, 66 Saunders Drive, Wilton, CT 06897; (203) 979-2234; apduffy@optonline.net