The class of 1981 continues to excel, produce and be recognized across a number of professions and pursuits. This column is being written as the holiday season peaks, and celebrating more ’81 accomplishments is the festive thing to do. Lon Povich was selected to be the top lawyer for Massachusetts Governor-elect Charlie Baker. The chief legal counsel’s duties typically include shaping the legal response to major lawsuits against the state, vetting legislation and overseeing judicial nomination. Lon is already familiar with the role, having been deputy chief legal counsel for Gov. Weld, when he worked on a reorganization of the governor’s cabinet and helped negotiate a pact with the Wampanoag tribe for a southeastern Massachusetts casino. Earlier in his career Lon worked as vice president and general counsel at Boston Consulting Group and executive vice president and general counsel at BJ’s Wholesale. Lon has served on the board of the Greater Boston Food Bank and recently won the Good Apple Award for “demonstrated dedication to public service, fairness and social justice” from the Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice. I did get Lon to comment: “I’ll say that I am excited to take on this challenging new role in the public sector. While at Dartmouth I interned for the chief legal counsel to the governor of Maine, and it only took me 36 years to get the job myself.” I was on student council with the new governor at Needham (Massachusetts) High School and I went on my freshman trip with Lon—is there something in all of this for me? 


Andy Lewin is the managing editor of the Magnum Legacy Series and let us know that after two years of work, the first volume, Eve Arnold, is going to press to be published in April. This volume will explore the creative process of Magnum photographers, from the agency’s early founders to more contemporary members, through a mix of biographical text, archival materials and iconic imagery. 


Dan Gilroy is the writer and director of the film, Nightcrawler (see story on him, page 30), and brother John Gilroy is the film editor. The film has been getting a lot of buzz since it premiered and as awards season ramps up it has garnered many performance and production nominations for Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globe, Independent Spirit and Satellite honors. I caught wind of all this following classmate Mark Hansson on Facebook. Mark has recently been first assistant director on the critically acclaimed series The Last Ship and Masters of Sex. 


We’re a few short months away from reunion and Rick Silverman wants to make sure you know what is in store and what you can expect. Current plans include a TedX-style panel, a lobster bake and a live band Friday night, with more to come. We are clustered this year with the almost-as-great classes of 1979 and 1980—so lock this up on your calendar now. Gotta’ go—over the river and through the woods.


—Brian Cusack, 26 Ocean Ave., Marblehead, MA 01945; (617) 710-7228; briancusack13@gmail.com; Robert Goldbloom, 324 Warburton Ave., Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706; (914) 231-5117; robertgoldbloom@gmail.com