It has been a full year now since I began writing the Class Notes column. The news in that time has encompassed untimely deaths, athletic achievements, political campaigns, job changes, retirements, multiple new books, mini-reunions and more. Here’s one thing I’ve learned: The class of 1978 remains a very active and engaged group of people, involved in an amazing array of enterprises. The names of 89 classmates have found their way into this column since I started writing. In another decade or so I should be able to get everybody in at least once—as long as you keep sending news! 


Former U.S. Justice Department antitrust attorney Allen Grunes was in the news this May, testifying before Congress against the proposed HBO-Comcast merger, which he called “very likely illegal.” Allen is currently practicing anti-trust law for GeyerGorey in Washington, D.C. “Although I’ve prepped witnesses for congressional hearings, I hadn’t testified before,” he wrote. “Turned out to be a good experience, proving that you can teach an old dog a new trick or, possibly, that some of us are really late bloomers. By the way, Comcast has very good lawyers, but not nearly as good as our very own Mark Hansen—he could have taught them a thing or two.” Allen can probably teach folks a thing or two as well: Thomson Reuters included him on its list of Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers for 2014.


Those of you not on Facebook should consider signing up and finding your way to the class of ’78 group. It is a great way to keep up with what classmates are doing. Rich Lougee alerted us in a recent post that after coaching hockey for many years in Europe, Doug Bradley took a job as assistant coach with the Wheeling (West Virginia) Nailers, of the East Coast Hockey League. The Nailers made a dramatic comeback in the playoffs when they were down two games to none. “The two comeback victories, both on the road, show the character of the team and (as much as I hate to say it) good coaching!” wrote Lougee. “Good luck the rest of the way, Goop!” Sadly, the Nailers were eliminated shortly thereafter. 


A few more career updates to report. Our very own media mogul, Jeff Krolik, has been named president of the Fox Sports Regional Networks. Jeff, a former HBO exec, has been executive VP there since 2007. Steve Boulanger has become the CFO at Nasuni, a provider of cloud storage for global companies. And UC Berkley physics professor (and former department chairman) Frances Hellman has accepted appointment as dean of the division of mathematical and physical sciences there. “It’s a great honor to be selected for a position like this,” Hellman told the Daily Californian. “It’s amazing.” She will take over the position on January 1. 


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—Rick Beyer, 34 Outlook Drive, Lexington, MA 02421; rick@rickbeyer.net