We’d likely all agree that among the perks of a Dartmouth education are the strong bonds we form during our years on (and often off) campus, especially those that continue to grow as time goes by.

One such relationship was that of Michael Marriott and Stephen Bradley: freshman roommates in Richardson, Gamma Delt brothers, and lifelong friends—which is why learning that Mike had lost his battle with leukemia came as such sobering news to Stephen, his best friend of the last 44 years. Stephen reminisced, “If you knew Mike, he was unforgettable: a huge presence and an irresistible life force with boundless energy for working hard and playing harder. And if Mike knew you, he probably gave you a nickname…and then used it relentlessly to make sure it stuck.” Stephen (“Butch”) shared that Mike (“Spike”) maintained his irrepressible joie de vivre through a successful Wall Street career and raising three kids (including Dean Marriott ’18) right up until the end of his life, even through surgeries and treatments. Jazz afficionados may remember Mike as first trumpet and lead soloist for the Barbary Coast. He went on to serve on the Hopkins Center board of directors and up until his illness led the N.Y.C. band Aged Inventory, raising $2 million for charity. More than 200 of the many people Mike befriended and mentored gathered in April for a memorial service followed by “a rager of a celebration of life” filled with laughter, just as he would’ve wanted it. For more on Mike’s life and legacy, see his obituary at dartmouthalumnimagazine.com.

Another friendship that has flourished during the last four decades is that of Michelle Dorion and Sarah Frech, with a number of classmates reaping the rewards. While living on opposite sides of the pond, the two vacationed together in Florence, Italy, and were inspired to plan a return trip—this time, for our entire art history foreign study program cohort! Following an epic four-day reunion in Florence in 2022 (with 13 of the original 17 participants, significant others, professor emerita Joy Kenseth, and Florentine professor Mario Carniani), the group is set to reconvene in Rome this October for more great art and architecture, food, and fellowship.

Is there a fellow ’84 whose friendship has had a lasting impact on your life? If so, email me your story. I’d love to celebrate more of these meaningful bonds in future columns.

For me, Teresa Paluszcyk Barnwell was that kind of friend: a godsend when my mom’s health deteriorated dramatically during a visit to Phoenix, Arizona. Teri, with a background as a breast cancer surgeon and medical director of the area’s largest hospice agency, had all the right connections and experiences, and she was there at a moment’s notice, her kindness and soothing presence bringing great comfort at an incredibly challenging time. Teri continues to be the consummate caregiver, though these days she’s focused on her youngest as he finishes high school as well as her mother and mother-in-law, who live nearby.

—Deana Washburn, 209 Casino Ave., Cranford, NJ 07016; deanadw@aol.com