As I write this Boston lies under an avalanche of snow. Wondering how much of it will still be here when you read this two months hence. Too much, I fear.


It was a terrible shock to learn that Margo Krasnoff died in January from an accidental fall down a flight of stairs in her Plainfield, New Hampshire, home. One of Margo’s colleagues on the faculty of the Geisel School of Medicine described her as “Dartmouth all the way,” which sounds about right. Margo attended medical school at Dartmouth, interned at Hitchcock Medical Center and spent most of her career on the Dartmouth medical faculty. She volunteered as a doctor in Central America and in 2013 she authored a guide for global healthcare workers. She also loved the outdoors—Margo hiked all of New Hampshire’s 4,000-footers and recently completed the 300-mile Catamount Trail on skis. “She was one of the most inspirational people I saw at the last class reunion,” recalled Genet Ide Duke on Facebook. “She was an incredibly good, generous, helpful person.” In recognition of Margo’s passion for healthy living, funds are being raised to give an annual lecture in her honor on the topic of heath and nutrition. Contributions can be sent to DHMC c/o Michele Clark, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, made out to Dartmouth Hitchcock Health, with “Margo Krasnoff Fund” on the memo line. 


Chris Riley shared the good news that our class has exceeded the ambitious goal of dedicating a boat and forming an athletic endowment in honor of Marc Farley. More than $110,000 has been raised to date. “Thanks for this overwhelming response should be given to classmates, friends and Dartmouth oarsmen/women,” says Chris. November 7 has been set as the dedication date. The eight will be rowed by ’78s and other donors in the Gardner Cup petite final at noon and officially dedicated after that. 


It was great to catch up with Valerie Steele at the opening of her new exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). The subject: fashion of the 1970s. (How was your fashion sense in the 1970s? Mine was non existent!) Valerie is the director of the FIT museum, has written more than 20 scholarly books on style and was recently profiled in The New York Times. (Read her profile on page 57 of this issue.)


Members of our class will gather at the drop of a hat, and President Hanlon’s recent tour has led to several ’78 mini-reunions. In Boston Todd Anderson, Woodie Arthur, Jim Bullion, Chris Hughes, Heather Mayfield Kelly, Peter Leone, Helen Lukash, Barbi Martinez, Ellen Meyer Shorb, Curt Oberg, Chris Riley, Cotton Smith, Joe Sullivan, Len Weiser-Varon and I were among classmates who attended Hanlon’s remarks or had dinner afterward. In New York a similar gathering included Charlie Allison, Steve Adnopoz, Damian Costanza Steve Cuervorst, Jody Dietze, Bill Dye, Tim Harrison and Steve Mandel.


And as for you, take a second right now to email me with your news. Inquiring classmates want to know!


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