Class Note 1984
Issue
November-December 2023
Now that we’re well into the fall term, and “back to school,” this column will attempt to do something more erudite. Remember Proust?
We’ve asked Maria Cole the same questions that Proust originally answered in 1890. Here are a few of Maria’s answers from July 13 and for the lawyers in the class, note that these answers could very well change tomorrow if not already be changed.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? “Love and justice.”What is your greatest fear? “Dying alone.” What is your greatest extravagance? “Sleep and doing nothing.” On what occasion do you lie? “I don’t. I stutter when I lie.” When and where were you happiest? “The mental state of when I am completely free and being utterly present in the moment. Geographically, when I am on a travel adventure or in Hanover.” Which talent would you most like to have? “Playing the piano.”
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? “I would say ‘no’ more often, and I would be more organized.” If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? “A body of water—water is a life force and has the power to move through anything—even mountains and stone.” Which historical figure do you most identify with? “Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Frederick Douglass, Dorothy Day, and Audrey Hepburn.” Who are your heroes in real life? “My mother.”
What are your favorite names? “Beloved, love, and sweet love. My dad used to call me baby girl, so I’ll throw that one in here too.” What is it that you most dislike? “White supremacy and racism as well as the microaggressions and gaslighting from those lacking self-awareness.” Try asking yourself some of these same Proustian questions and email your class secretaries with your responses!
Looking ahead to the holidays, if you’re wondering how to spice up your parties, why not hire Karen Thomsen Trost to bring the Dartmouth 40th Reunion Singers to your event! Karen was at the 40th reunion along with her gal pals Cheryl Baylor, Becca Haerle Eaton, and Gail Marino Herzig. For those who couldn’t attend, the Dartmouth 40th Reunion Singers performed after lunch on Saturday and at the class of 1984 memorial service. The group included singers from all three classes and all different Dartmouth singing groups. The ’84 singers were Mary Meeker Alber, Chris Covert-Bowlds, Nancy Farrell Getter, Viva Hardigg, Susan Harrington, David Hooke, Lori Glaser Korn, Kathy Krause, Beth Donahue Mead, Liz Miles, Mark Montgomery, Eric Redwine, Joseph Selle, David Shuler, Amy Worden Smith, Eric Taylor, Caroline Lyon Tippin (conductor), Sarah Burrell Troxel.
Karen had a friendly inter-class competition, and the ’84s came out on top with 20 singers—no surprises there! Karen hopes to continue this now-established tradition at the next reunion and that even more classmates will join us to “make the gray old maples ring” when we “gather on the campus” again. So start warming up your vocal cords now!
—Juliet Aires Giglio, 4915 Bentbrook Drive, Manlius, NY 13104; julietgiglio@gmail.com; Eric Grubman, 2 Fox Den Way, Woodbridge, CT 06525; (203) 710-7933; grubman@sbcglobal.net
We’ve asked Maria Cole the same questions that Proust originally answered in 1890. Here are a few of Maria’s answers from July 13 and for the lawyers in the class, note that these answers could very well change tomorrow if not already be changed.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? “Love and justice.”What is your greatest fear? “Dying alone.” What is your greatest extravagance? “Sleep and doing nothing.” On what occasion do you lie? “I don’t. I stutter when I lie.” When and where were you happiest? “The mental state of when I am completely free and being utterly present in the moment. Geographically, when I am on a travel adventure or in Hanover.” Which talent would you most like to have? “Playing the piano.”
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? “I would say ‘no’ more often, and I would be more organized.” If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? “A body of water—water is a life force and has the power to move through anything—even mountains and stone.” Which historical figure do you most identify with? “Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Frederick Douglass, Dorothy Day, and Audrey Hepburn.” Who are your heroes in real life? “My mother.”
What are your favorite names? “Beloved, love, and sweet love. My dad used to call me baby girl, so I’ll throw that one in here too.” What is it that you most dislike? “White supremacy and racism as well as the microaggressions and gaslighting from those lacking self-awareness.” Try asking yourself some of these same Proustian questions and email your class secretaries with your responses!
Looking ahead to the holidays, if you’re wondering how to spice up your parties, why not hire Karen Thomsen Trost to bring the Dartmouth 40th Reunion Singers to your event! Karen was at the 40th reunion along with her gal pals Cheryl Baylor, Becca Haerle Eaton, and Gail Marino Herzig. For those who couldn’t attend, the Dartmouth 40th Reunion Singers performed after lunch on Saturday and at the class of 1984 memorial service. The group included singers from all three classes and all different Dartmouth singing groups. The ’84 singers were Mary Meeker Alber, Chris Covert-Bowlds, Nancy Farrell Getter, Viva Hardigg, Susan Harrington, David Hooke, Lori Glaser Korn, Kathy Krause, Beth Donahue Mead, Liz Miles, Mark Montgomery, Eric Redwine, Joseph Selle, David Shuler, Amy Worden Smith, Eric Taylor, Caroline Lyon Tippin (conductor), Sarah Burrell Troxel.
Karen had a friendly inter-class competition, and the ’84s came out on top with 20 singers—no surprises there! Karen hopes to continue this now-established tradition at the next reunion and that even more classmates will join us to “make the gray old maples ring” when we “gather on the campus” again. So start warming up your vocal cords now!
—Juliet Aires Giglio, 4915 Bentbrook Drive, Manlius, NY 13104; julietgiglio@gmail.com; Eric Grubman, 2 Fox Den Way, Woodbridge, CT 06525; (203) 710-7933; grubman@sbcglobal.net