Class Note 1980

I might enjoy holidays and vacations more if I could eat as much and sleep as late as I did back in college. When I try to relive my glory days as a gluttonous sloth, I am shocked to realize I am no longer in shape. I can’t downshift into low gear like I used to. 


Sound familiar? If so, I believe that a rigorous training regimen could help you overcome these shortcomings. Start with a set of increasingly large and well-timed meals before the holidays and a few quasi-geriatric-early-bird-bedtimes prior to your vacation. And of course, prepare for the inevitable late night binging at our 35th reunion (June 18-21) by going out of your way to participate in a few informal reunions with friends! 


I am fully committed to this pre-reunion training program. In late December I joined Mark Alperin, Hans Morris, Rob Ruocco, Craig Lambdin, Jeff Citrin, Chuck Wheelock, Paul Salafia, Stanley Weil ’79, Bill Gates ’81 and Mark Zimmerman ’82 for a holiday dinner in New York City. The unflattering pictures are a grim reminder of the fun we had. A month earlier Alpo, Hans, Rock, Craig and I expressed our support for Big Green football—and “praise” for Old Nassau—during and after the annual thrashing of the Tigers. Peter Boone was there at Princeton, enjoying the game with his father. Peter had come down from Connecticut where he works as an orthopedic surgeon.


There’s a common thread that links Peter and each of the other classmates on the list that follows. Of course they are all trained medical doctors. But what is the less obvious thread that ties together this particular group of M.D.s: Peter Boone, David Nutter, Joan Draper, Mark Liponis, Paul Wax, Cindy Shortell Peyser, John Buse, Harry Malcolm, Lisa Sanders, Susan Wiersma, Doug Ball, Susan Ball, Vanessa Britto, Kathy Cooney, Joan Draper, Rob Enelow, Ray Blackwell, Donald Fithian, Buddy Ide, Kim Leighton, John Coco, Paul Stephens, Tyra Bryant-Stephens.


And now it’s time for two truths and a lie. See if you can identify the one story that is false.


First, Ross Brownridge founded Lullablades, a furniture manufacturer that makes rocking chairs out of old hockey sticks.


Second, Emily Lisberger Vitale and Lori Zelico Florio started PrismSport, a company that offers fitness clothing in vivid colors and distinctive prints.


Third, Andy Minden opened Ramble on Pearl, a retail store that sells apparel for people with active lifestyles and doubles as an employment training facility for adults with developmental disabilities.


Did I mention that there’s a class reunion in June? You can get more details and sign up at our class pages on the Dartmouth website. Looking for a more personal touch? You can reach reunion co-chairs Cathy McGrath, Kate Wiley Laud and Lisa Shanahan by email at dartmouth80@gmail.com. Or you can contact Rob or me using the information below.


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