Here’s to 2024 being a collectively tremendous year for the class of 1985. Contributing mightily to the 2024 enjoyment factor, here is the first column of the year:
From Vermont and Marcy Marceau: “Our catering and event site business was able to hang on through Covid, which was tough on many businesses in the food, beverage, and service industries. I was able to evaluate our business, make some changes, and develop a new website, vermontpartybarn.com. Beginning in 2022 the College came back to life, resuscitating many small area businesses. We had the pleasure of catering President Hanlon’s final retirement luncheon in June before launching into reunion season with the class of ’84! More recently, Rose Mutiso ’08, Th’08, received the McGuire Family Prize for Societal Impact, and we were honored to cater the dinner for the award ceremony at the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society. On a personal note, working at various spots on campus can be nostalgic and elicit many wonderful Dartmouth memories. We would love to see anyone who makes the trip back, and I encourage you to stop by—there’s coffee in the morning and cocktails in the afternoon!”
From the rapidly growing world of pickleball and dual sport star Glenn Jordan: “After tying for the 2017 New England checkers title, pickleball has become a consuming passion. In November 2022 my partner and I won a national title for our age (55-plus) and skill level (4.5) at Indian Wells, California. This year I joined the inaugural season of the National Pickleball League, first playing for the Austin Ignite and finishing with the Indianapolis Drivers. Serendipitously, No. 3 Indy advanced to the championship match against top-seeded Austin—and Indy rallied from a 6-2 deficit to win the title, 10-6. Check out www.nplpickleball.com. Three years ago I cut back from full time to two days per week as a sportswriter for the Portland Press Herald. Now I teach pickleball locally in Maine and farther afield as an instructor with Engage Pickleball Camps. Last summer classmates Brent Merriam, Jim Leightheiser, Doug Williamson, and John Greabe joined me for some fun recreational play in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In December I am hoping to pass my evaluation test to become fully certified as a pickleball referee.”
From the “Another Day, Another Award” department: Thanks to Phil Privitera ’90 for his note about his colleague and our classmate. Congratulations Sue Finegan Vasu for being named the “Law Day” liaison of the Boston College Law School alumni board of directors by incoming president Philip J. Privitera. Sue has been the chairperson of the Law Day Celebration at Boston College Law School for several years. Her “stella” work and dedication have been appreciated more than Sue will ever know. (Well, now she does!)
Remember to make 2024 the start of a wonderful decade!
—John MacManus, 188 Ringwood Road, Rosemont, PA 19010; (610) 525-4541; slampong@aol.com; Rebecca Blake Osborne, 42 Olive St., Newburyport, MA 01950; (603) 381-4164; rosborne29@comcast.net