In December Emil Chynn got together with his fellow tripmates from their German language study abroad in Mainz: Clyde Haig, Quinn Paek, Erik Schmidt, and Ward Watson. Emil reports that Clyde is an attorney in Connecticut following his service in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. A former resident of the Upper Valley, Ward is now in Greenville, South Carolina, and had not been in touch with much of the gang for the past 20 years! Quinn has worked as a cinematographer on a number of independent films (as listed in the online entertainment database IMDb). Erik is an in-house counsel at Capitol One in Chicago and is “enjoying the whitewater of parenting three boys.” An eye surgeon located in N.Y.C. and a one-time featured bachelor on the television show The Millionaire Matchmaker, Emil is both the godfather to Erik’s children and his doctor: He performed Erik’s LASEK eye surgery. What else are friends for?

Fellow ophthalmologist Abdhish Bhavsar and his wife, Mary, have established an endowed fund at the Wayne State University School of Medicine to support medical students’ international travel experiences. Abdhish’s father grew up in a 10-by-10-foot apartment in a poor, inner-city neighborhood in India but eventually came to the United States to practice psychiatry. “My father embraced Gandhi’s ideals in his life and work and, in turn, taught me to embrace them as guiding principles—to help those who are unable to help themselves or are oppressed,” Abdhish said. “This fund is one way I can help to further that cause and those ideals.”

Another way many of us can help others going through difficult times is by joining the ’87 Compassion Network. Led by Stacey (Wolff) Savas, the Compassion Network is a group of ’87 volunteers on call to provide support for classmates or their immediate family members experiencing challenging life events. Stacey herself suffered the devastating loss of her daughter in February, so is living through just such a horrific experience. My heart goes out to Stacey, and you can assist in her efforts by visiting the class website to learn how you can help classmates or how the Compassion Network might be able to help you.

Unfortunately, I will close with more crushing news: the passing of Mary (McArtor) Reynolds on January 7, after a five-year battle with cancer. Mary was a Kappa Alpha Theta sister of mine, and I remember her as a woman of few words with a strong, steady presence; when Mary spoke, you listened. “This news broke my heart,” friend and fellow Theta Colette (Bourquin) Nygren said. “Mary was an absolute gem.” As her obituary eloquently states, “Mary’s quiet leadership, grace, and compassion impacted all who were fortunate enough to know and work with her.” Mary is survived by her husband, Tim Reynolds ’86, and two children. Donations in Mary’s honor can be made to the Mary Durstine McArtor Reynolds Memorial Giving Fund, 295 River Drive, Tequesta, FL 33469.

—Laura Gasser, 746 17th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94121; marcklaurag@aol.com