Class of 1985

We love getting updates from classmates such as Keith Moon, whom we haven’t heard from in a while.

The year 2025 marks Keith’s 36th year teaching Russian literature and history at the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut. He gives credit to the husband-and-wife team of Dartmouth professors Loseff and Scherr for setting him up well for his job. This year also marks Keith’s 26th year working as the senior resident dean at the Harvard Summer School secondary-school program in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Perhaps his most proud accomplishments are the work done and funds raised through Hotchkiss for Special Olympics Connecticut, including sponsoring and running a significant swimming fundraiser. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Keith explains, “We expanded our efforts to include creating a Dream Day Center in Bratislava, Slovakia, for Ukrainian refugee children born with intellectual disabilities.” Keith’s dedication to these charitable efforts was recognized in March with two unexpected awards. He attended the Winter World Special Olympics Games in Italy as an honorary delegate of Slovakia and was inducted into the Special Olympics Connecticut Hall of Fame. “I have never felt so honored,” Keith writes. Very well deserved!

Susannah Gaylord Budington, Sue Finegan, Jill Morgan, and Diane Bonina enjoyed a beautiful June weekend in Hanover celebrating the graduation of Maddy Codding ’25, daughter of the late Barbara Codding. These four women, who were dear friends of Barbara, visited Maddy’s sorority, celebrated with her family, and “danced it out” with Sandra Oh, the class of 2025 Commencement speaker during the graduation ceremony. Diane writes, “It was a privilege to honor Barbara’s memory and Maddy’s accomplishments in this way.”

We lost two adored members of our class in the first part of this year. Ratha “Tito” Tan passed away on April 21 from pancreatic cancer. Born in Cambodia, Tito fled to Thailand at 12 years old to escape the genocidal regime of the Khmer Rouge. After earning his chemistry degree at Dartmouth, Tito earned a master’s in international relations and served as an electoral officer for the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), helping to establish a free and fair electoral process. His wife writes in Tito’s obituary, “He was known for his kindness and the empathy it inspired, his devout faith and belief in God, his wicked sense of humor, and his stories that kept the history of our family and culture alive.”

Herb Philpott died unexpectedly while hiking Mount Greylock in Williamstown, Massachusetts, on June 13. Herb was a proud member of SigEp. Professionally, Herb worked for Steve Jobs at NeXT Computer and Apple and then returned to his native Massachusetts for roles with TeraDyne and Wolters Kluwer. Herb was a dedicated volunteer, being honored for his efforts with several distinguished awards. He was involved in Cub Scouts and an avid supporter of local theater arts and music. Friend since Dartmouth Jim Kreitman expressed his feelings at Herb’s passing: “I’ll see you again down in the basement next to the pong table!”

—Rebecca Blake Osborne, 42 Olive St., Newburyport, MA 01950; (603) 381-4164; rosborne29@comcast.net; John MacManus, 118 Ringwood Road, Rosemont, PA 19010; (610) 331-6417; slampong@aol.com