Class of 1977

Jay MacNamee reminisced about high school and college classmate Rob Kemeny: “Like celestial bodies traveling through space, some friends seem to pass into the orbit of our lives on predetermined ellipses, their paths defined by their unique eccentricities. When entering our sphere they become essential to our identities, social well-being, and happiness. We enjoy them immensely while they are in our circuit, then Kepler’s second law kicks in, hurtling them away from us, not to be seen again for many years. If we are lucky a few of these friends have lengthy plasma tails that continue to glow long after their bodies have passed out of sight.

“Rob Kemeny was just such a friend. There are things about him I’ll never forget: his unreserved generosity, unwavering loyalty, unrelenting kindness, and unbridled enthusiasm. We always had a blast together: partying on the team bus; partying at his family’s Lyme, New Hampshire, woods cabin; partying at the President’s House on Webster Avenue. (Hmm…is there a pattern here?) Even when things were not going Rob’s way, he always kept his spirits up. (Many hijinks and memories redacted here.) Now when I look up at the night sky I see remnants of Rob’s brilliant plasma tail being drawn inevitably into the darkness. He and I are, indeed, still friends. My spidey-sense is telling me that, at last, everything is okay with him.” For the full remembrance contact jbmacnamee77@gmail.com.

Breeder of exotic roaches and prince of patents John Storella is passionate about everything he tackles, recently screaming at me “We’re on track to beat the Bartlett Tower Society membership record at our 50th reunion!” Bartlett Tower Society (BTS) includes alumni who’ve made a planned gift to Dartmouth—a bequest, a 401k beneficiary designation, etc. We need nine more members to beat the record. To join BTS contact gift planning: giftplanning@dartmouth.edu or jrstorella@icloud.com.

Peter Mills elicits your participation in his brainchild: “We are launching the ‘Class of ’77 Guides and Seekers (G&S) Network.’ This idea sprang from my experience in 2019 when diagnosed with a serious grade of prostate cancer and my wife and I went into panic mode, researching alternative treatments, interviewing surgeons, and more. I found it enormously helpful to talk with people (often found via friends of friends) who had been through treatments and were willing to share information. It was a terrifying month, made less so by helpful advice. I thought classmates could connect with classmates who have been through a medical or emotional crisis and share advice.” We are launching a version with Peter as the clearinghouse for G&S. Anyone wanting to be a guide or a seeker, contact Peter at pbmsv@icloud.com and he will confidentially make the relevant connection. G&S relies on trust and confidentiality. To date we have 45 self-identified guides with myriad experiences from cancers, orthopedics, traumas, substances, and heart health to aging and more. Contact pbmsv@icloud.com to guide or seek.

Not getting class emails and e-newsletters? Call the alumni help desk (603) 646-3202 to update your email and forwarding address.

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