Class Note 1980
Jeff Kuhn arrived at Dartmouth from New Trier East. Ben Zuraw and Todd Young were high school classmates. He roomed with Tom Carley on the second floor of South Mass, one floor above Tom Veith and Stan Smith and one floorbelow Bruce Collins and Jon Snider.At Dartmouth, he majored in economics, ran the advertising department of The D, joined Phi Delt, and played water polo. After graduation Jeff obtained an M.B.A. from Northwestern and moved to Dallas to work in commercial real estate.
To say that from here this familiar story gets interesting warrants a deafening chorus that begins “Why?” At the ripe age of 31 Jeff suffered burns over 80 percent of his body. Doctors told his family he had only days, maybe hours, to live. Last rites were administered. But as lead plastic surgeon Dr. Rohrich describes it, “Not only did he survive, he thrived.” Two years, 17 surgeries, and countless hours of excruciating treatment, physical therapy, and never-missed workouts with his faithful dog and personal trainer Sparky, he was stronger than ever. Then misfortune struck again in the form of a rare neuromuscular disease similar to Lou Gehrig’s in symptomology and painfulness. A second comeback took another two brutal years. Please do not pass, but rather go directly to Amazon and read Blue Sky Lightning: How to Survive and Thrive When Life Blindsides You. Jeff passionately explains how to overcome adversity and maintain positivity in the face of any challenge.
Marty Peterson is now in her second decade of cohosting the contemporary radio magazine Viewpoints. Each week’s show features interviews with guests that have expertise and real-world experience regarding current events, social commentary, entertainment and more. The program currently airs on over 700 radio stations and can be heard in 49 of the top 50 markets. You also can hear and see Marty in various voiceovers and television and radio commercials. Mark Webb declined comment on whether Marty’s tremendous success is encouraging him to make his comeback in acting on television and in commercials; those of us who remember his work from before Dartmouth would love to see it.
Mark your calendars: September 7, the 250th day of the year, we are celebrating the College’s 250th anniversary with 250 miles of hiking. October 11-12 is Homecoming weekend. Before the Yale game, we will gather for a tailgate; afterward, we will reconvene at the Dartmouth Outing Club House for our fourth annual Homecoming dinner. October 24 Janine Fate Avner is moderating webcast interviews with two classmates who took proverbial lesser-traveled paths. Jill Fredston will discuss avalanches, mountain safety, rowing in the Arctic Circle, and her book Rowing to Latitude. Michael Chu will add range with discussion of his 25-year career as tenor in the Leipzig Opera. You may view from home or join friends at one of several mini-reunions to be held that evening. For details regarding these events, and our upcoming 40th reunion (June 19-21, 2020), please see the class website and Facebook pages.
—Rob Daisley, 3201 W. Knights Ave., Tampa, FL 33611; (813) 300-7954; robdaisley@me.com; Frank Fesnak, 242 River Road, Gladwyne, PA 19035; (408) 859-9652; ffesnak@gmail.com; Wade Herring, P.O. Box 9848, Savannah, GA 31412, (912) 944-1639; wherring@huntermaclean.com
