There’s a thread that ties many of us together. This connection is evident in the lives we are leading more than 30 years after we separated.


The turnout at this summer’s New York dinner was smaller than usual; besides myself, our group included Hans Morris, Chuck Wheelock, Rob Ruocco, Craig Lambdin and Mark Zimmerman ’81. Rob shared his admiration and respect for classmate Jim Wilson, with whom he has worked side-by-side for many years as a general partner at New York-based financial firm Carl Marks. Chuck talked about the partnership he developed with classmate Lanny Vickery when the two of them worked together to redesign Lanny’s Austin, Texas home—a home that has since been featured in architectural magazines. Craig and I talked about our favorite TV shows. (Are you also watching Drunk History?) We all poked fun at last-minute no-shows Jeff Citrin, Earl Grossman and Paul Elminger.


Did you know that Paul, Winston Hutchins and Doug Sacks all live in the same Park Avenue building? Small world. This summer my family and I enjoyed a lovely evening with Doug, his wife, Patty, their daughter and at least a dozen of her friends, and their two dogs at Doug’s marvelous summer home on Martha’s Vineyard. It’s that thread that pulled us together.


In related-but-unrelated news, Chris Bensley is now president and CEO of a startup travel services company. Two of his trusted directors are Bart Littlefield and Don McNaughton ’81.


In the July issue we introduced a new column feature, the ’80 List. After listing the following group of names we posed the question, “What do these classmates have in common?” The list included Albert Ellis, Bill Stewart, Joe Hunter, Tom Isaacson, George Morris, Bill Finnegan, John Toulmin and Grant MacEwan.


After seeing his name on the list, Tom Isaacson gave the subject some thought before asking for a hint. But in the very first sentence of the personal update he included with his request, Tom identified the list’s common thread. Tom’s partner’s name is Anne, with an “e.” Indeed, each of the fine gentlemen is or has coupled with an Anne. Worth noting: Two of these eight spouses are classmates Anne VanRoden Hunter and Anne Daigneault MacEwan. Now how hard was that?


Let’s return to Tom, who was drawn by his love for rock climbing to Boulder, Colorado, from Washington, D.C., back in 1998. Since then his interests have broadened to hiking, skiing and cycling. For the past five years Tom has competed in the bike race to the summit of Mount Evans (14,100 feet) and hopes to race someday to the top of Mount Washington, the mountain of his youth. For work Tom telecommutes to the D.C. offices of Covington & Burling, where he handles class action antitrust lawsuits. There are high standards for lawyers in Washington and for outdoor athletes in Boulder but that doesn’t faze Tom: “It’s not easy keeping up in both worlds, but I am happy to give it a shot.”


It’s time for this month’s ’80 List. What do these classmates have in common? Can you identify the thread that pulls these people together: Tom Chapin, Lauri Livesey Sanduski, Keith Glovins, Dan Freihofer, David MacAllaster, Jerry Bird, Debbie Wolk Berger, Al Noyes, Hope Picker, Keith Quinton, Jay Weed, Bill Finnegan, Katie Wiley Laud, Roman Lipp, Andy Graham, Jeff Sawyer, Trina Olin Santry, Grant MacEwan, Bob Burnham and Steve Rutan. The first three correct answers will win gift certificates from the Dartmouth Co-op!


—Frank Fesnak, 242 River Road, Gladwyne, PA 19035; (610) 581-8889; ffesnak@yahoo.com; Rob Daisley, 3201 W. Knights Ave., Tampa, FL 33611; (813) 300-7954; robdaisley@me.com