Class Note 1977

Once again down to the wire, waiting to see if anyone will send me some news! But I must get this done before my power goes out. I’m awaiting the arrival of Hurricane Irene and hoping my basement doesn’t flood. It’s been a crazy time here on the East Coast, with our earthquake this week, now a hurricane and the wettest month in Philadelphia’s history—we’ve battened down the hatches!


John T. Bird sent me a mint condition Carl Yastrzemski baseball card! He was recently in Cooperstown, New York, for the Baseball Hall of Fame induction weekend, where he ran into Lucy Townsend. Lucy caters events for the hall of fame and, as John noted, “She is totally unfazed by the prospect of a last-minute party for 650 on the heels of a soiree for 350, all flawlessly executed in 98 degree weather!” I mentioned to John that I had visited Cooperstown a couple of times and that Yaz was my idol and the reason why I am such a huge baseball fan, hence the card! He also sent news of Alan Trefler from The New York Times. Alan is founder and CEO of Pegasystems, a business technology company. In the article Alan talks about the value of making mistakes and learning from them, recalling it was helpful when he played serious chess as a young man. John commented that Alan was the best chess player at Dartmouth, and was in his English Freshman Seminar, along with Amy Cammann Cholnoky.


Gotta love Moms! Charles “Chip” Swicker’s mom sent me in some news! He recently completed a three-year tour on the Joint Staff in the Pentagon and has moved across the Potomac to his new assignment as Senior Naval Advisor at the State Department. 


I just received the Sept/Oct issue of our alumni magazine and read with interest the class of 76 account of their 35th reunion this past June. Nancy Parssinen Vespoli, our reunion chair, is working hard on plans for our 35th next June. Mark your calendars—our reunion will be June 14-17, 2012. We are the first class to have our 35th officially on the weekend, as opposed to mid-week, so there are no excuses for not being there! Visit the class website (www.dartmouth.org/classes/77) and Facebook for the latest updates, including lodging, if you don’t want to stay in the dorms. If you’d like to help with any plans for our reunion, visit the website and let us know.


I’m heading up to Hanover for Class Officers Weekend the end of September and looking forward to President Kim’s visit to Philadelphia shortly after that—I’m going to get my Dartmouth fix! Plan on coming to our reunion to get yours!


—Kathy Kelley Cimina, 6 Martins Road, Newtown Square, PA 19073; (610) 356-4685; cohasset73@comcast.net