Class Note 1979
Issue
If you didn’t attend the 30th reunion, we missed you. It was a special, almost magical time with travel into the past and future simultaneously. Whether from 30 minutes or from 30 years ago conversations picked up right where they left off. Equally wonderful were the many new conversations that started up, helping forge new friendships among classmates.
Leslie Gordon wrote: “So thrilled to have reconnected—or connected for the first time—with wise, wonderful classmates. It couldn’t have been better. I don’t remember all of us being so nice. Still recovering from sleep deprivation.”
Our “top-tier” class broke all attendance records with 207 classmates and 363 total attendance—the most ever for a Dartmouth 30th reunion class. We beat the previous classmate record (held by 1977) by almost 14 percent! Reunion male-female ratio was 2:1. Thirty-one classmates came from Massachusetts, followed by 26 from California. Thirty-three states were represented and at least five countries (Canada, England, Japan, Nepal and South Africa). Jon Zehner traveled 7,897 miles from Johannesburg, South Africa, to our reunion tent. Bill Mitchell traveled only 7,897 inches from his Hanover Rope Ferry home.
We launched festivities Thursday evening at Bill and Bray’s home (Bray became an honorary classmate on Friday).
Jim Wasz and his “committee of 37” pulled off a fantastic reunion. Space prevents listing everyone who helped (see newsletter for more coverage). Some key committee people included publicist Carol Anderson Shaw; registrars Kim Donovan Henley, John Currier and Brendan Cameron; treasurer Jim Boldt; souvenir hunter Michelle Kane O’Donnell; and weekend drink supplier and fun-run organizer Phil Odence. Our Joe Henley, Janie Hamner and Eve Hoar ran some events. Ken Beer, Nancy Schwartzman Malmquist, Libby Roberts, Nancy Wilder and Gail Frawley Granowitz organized gatherings. Thanks for jobs well done!
New class officers were elected, with Jim Wasz our new class president. We thanked outgoing president Laurie Laidlaw Roulston for all she did for the class.
Giovan Venable King led a service of remembrance at Mike Biondi Park for the 23 classmates who are no longer with us. Laurie Roulston wrote Van, “I can’t begin to tell you how many people commented on how wonderful the service was. It came up in almost every conversation. We have all been to many memorial services—this one was really special. Many folks really loved the venue.” Peggy Epstein Tanner added, “It was orchestrated so beautifully. I felt emotions of sadness and love. As we held hands during the first song, I kept thinking about how much I cared for everyone in our class. The connection was intense. Thank you, Van, for creating the perfect memorial.”
Laurie Rosenfield Falk moderated a panel discussion: “Reinventing Yourself!” Laurie reinvented herself after a career in film by going back to school to become an executive coach. Mike Wilkinson, founder and managing director of leadership strategies, helped facilitate the conversation between panelists and audience with contagious enthusiasm and energy. Mike reinvented himself years ago and built his company, now a national leader in facilitation services and training. Panelists Paul Centenari, Jim Hake, Dawn Hudson, David Kelley and Mark Tomalonis shared their stories with insight, passion and humor.
On Saturday night we recognized thoroughbred “Hill Wind” Peggy Epstein Tanner as first-ever Dartmouth alum to win the Triple Crown of alumni awards.
This is my last column. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know so many of you. Thanks for your support and stories. I now shift seats to become newsletter editor. Deborah Krieger Jennings (djennings@mka.org), your new class secretary, starts work immediately. Send her your news!
Cherish every friendship, every story, every day.
—Mark Winkler, 17 Southview, Pleasantville, NY 10570; (212) 827-8456; mwinkler@marthastewart.com
Sept - Oct 2009
If you didn’t attend the 30th reunion, we missed you. It was a special, almost magical time with travel into the past and future simultaneously. Whether from 30 minutes or from 30 years ago conversations picked up right where they left off. Equally wonderful were the many new conversations that started up, helping forge new friendships among classmates.
Leslie Gordon wrote: “So thrilled to have reconnected—or connected for the first time—with wise, wonderful classmates. It couldn’t have been better. I don’t remember all of us being so nice. Still recovering from sleep deprivation.”
Our “top-tier” class broke all attendance records with 207 classmates and 363 total attendance—the most ever for a Dartmouth 30th reunion class. We beat the previous classmate record (held by 1977) by almost 14 percent! Reunion male-female ratio was 2:1. Thirty-one classmates came from Massachusetts, followed by 26 from California. Thirty-three states were represented and at least five countries (Canada, England, Japan, Nepal and South Africa). Jon Zehner traveled 7,897 miles from Johannesburg, South Africa, to our reunion tent. Bill Mitchell traveled only 7,897 inches from his Hanover Rope Ferry home.
We launched festivities Thursday evening at Bill and Bray’s home (Bray became an honorary classmate on Friday).
Jim Wasz and his “committee of 37” pulled off a fantastic reunion. Space prevents listing everyone who helped (see newsletter for more coverage). Some key committee people included publicist Carol Anderson Shaw; registrars Kim Donovan Henley, John Currier and Brendan Cameron; treasurer Jim Boldt; souvenir hunter Michelle Kane O’Donnell; and weekend drink supplier and fun-run organizer Phil Odence. Our Joe Henley, Janie Hamner and Eve Hoar ran some events. Ken Beer, Nancy Schwartzman Malmquist, Libby Roberts, Nancy Wilder and Gail Frawley Granowitz organized gatherings. Thanks for jobs well done!
New class officers were elected, with Jim Wasz our new class president. We thanked outgoing president Laurie Laidlaw Roulston for all she did for the class.
Giovan Venable King led a service of remembrance at Mike Biondi Park for the 23 classmates who are no longer with us. Laurie Roulston wrote Van, “I can’t begin to tell you how many people commented on how wonderful the service was. It came up in almost every conversation. We have all been to many memorial services—this one was really special. Many folks really loved the venue.” Peggy Epstein Tanner added, “It was orchestrated so beautifully. I felt emotions of sadness and love. As we held hands during the first song, I kept thinking about how much I cared for everyone in our class. The connection was intense. Thank you, Van, for creating the perfect memorial.”
Laurie Rosenfield Falk moderated a panel discussion: “Reinventing Yourself!” Laurie reinvented herself after a career in film by going back to school to become an executive coach. Mike Wilkinson, founder and managing director of leadership strategies, helped facilitate the conversation between panelists and audience with contagious enthusiasm and energy. Mike reinvented himself years ago and built his company, now a national leader in facilitation services and training. Panelists Paul Centenari, Jim Hake, Dawn Hudson, David Kelley and Mark Tomalonis shared their stories with insight, passion and humor.
On Saturday night we recognized thoroughbred “Hill Wind” Peggy Epstein Tanner as first-ever Dartmouth alum to win the Triple Crown of alumni awards.
This is my last column. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know so many of you. Thanks for your support and stories. I now shift seats to become newsletter editor. Deborah Krieger Jennings (djennings@mka.org), your new class secretary, starts work immediately. Send her your news!
Cherish every friendship, every story, every day.
—Mark Winkler, 17 Southview, Pleasantville, NY 10570; (212) 827-8456; mwinkler@marthastewart.com