Class Note 1988

Greetings, ’88s! As I write this column in early May, the pandemic is the dominant topic of the news and daily conversation. I cannot help but wonder if filling this column with the usual assortment of anecdotes about our classmates might seem inappropriately trivial or even tone-deaf to the suffering and fear around the world. Yet I know many of us take seriously the idea that we can be together even while we stay socially distanced. In that spirit, then, perhaps this column can play a small role in encouraging the great class of ’88 to come together more than ever.

This period of social distancing has prompted interactions among classmates in fun new ways, and I encourage you to take part. For example, a number of dorm groups have held Zoom mini-reunions, and small groups of classmates are doing yoga or having happy hour “together” virtually. Also, while we are mostly staying home, some classmates are sorting through those dusty old boxes in the attic. From those searches have come amazing artifacts from college days, and it is great to see the sharing of photos or descriptions of what you are unearthing. What other ways have you found to connect virtually with classmates during the pandemic? Let me know, as I would love to mention it in a future column.

So what else is new with our classmates? Anne (Chmielewski) Kushwaha, who is semi-retired, said she was disappointed to have missed trips this spring, when she would have seen Catherine (Craighead) Briggs, Amy Keller, and Tracey (Nelson) Tiedman. Anne has started gardening as a hobby and says she sees it as almost like a biology lab. Anne also has spent time hiking with her dog in Maine and on Martha’s Vineyard, where she aims to complete all 52 hikes on the island and to see Becca (Strock) Latimore this summer.

I also heard from Dave McConnell, who is developing creative ways for his community-centered business (Three of Strong Spirits, a craft distillery, in Portland, Maine) to operate during the pandemic. While converting some of the operation to making hand sanitizer to sell at cost, the business—which he called a “family affair” involving Janine Lambert and their three children—is holding virtual classes and happy hours for now.

Finally, I was inspired by a note from Christina (Perry) Katz, who told me she celebrated her 25th anniversary of sobriety in March, “probably the biggest accomplishment of my life thus far, and I am pretty darn proud of it.” As you should be, Christina! She also will mark 20 years of marriage this year and will see her daughter start college to study musical theater and dance. Living in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Christina is a dedicated gardener, with a cut flower bed for the first time this year. Her bouquets, which she highlights on social media, are not only gorgeous, but also provide a welcome spot of positivity for me.

I look forward to hearing from you!

All the best.

—Tory Woodin Chavey, 128 Steele Road, West Hartford, CT 06119; dartmouth88classnotes@gmail.com