Greetings, ’88s! I must begin this column by sharing the sad news of the passing of our classmate David Feldman in October 2023. Please read the online obituary for a brief review of David’s full and accomplished life. With that poignant reminder of how precious every day is, I turn now to my ongoing effort in this column to highlight our classmates’ special memories of Dartmouth and how their connection to the College has made an impact on their lives. We are quickly approaching our next reunion in June and reading classmates’ reflections will, I hope, inspire you to reconnect with other ’88s and consider attending the reunion. Melissa Frame shared her love of Dartmouth by citing some of her favorite activities: “I loved playing in the wonderland of Dartmouth and surroundings: cycling on our first-year trip and learning to roll a kayak in the Connecticut River, hiking Moosilauke through the years just because we could, skating on Occom Pond.” Melissa now has her master’s in counseling and works as a licensed professional counselor with her own virtual private practice focusing on trauma and approaches that help her patients heal. After a divorce Melissa married her “awesome husband,” and they enjoy kayaking, swimming with their goldendoodle, cycling, hiking, and visiting with her four children. Melissa closed her note by writing: “If we ever ran or roomed together, played lax on the Green, spoke French before lit class, practiced Italian on the Skiway, palled around Italy or simply hung out, thank you for multiplying my joy.” Phil Febbo also shared his special thoughts about Dartmouth: “I consider myself so fortunate to have attended Dartmouth and loved being at a college that brings together outstanding curious and creative minds in the embrace of New Hampshire’s outdoors and Dartmouth’s incredible faculty and facilities. For me this combination created an environment for self-realization and actualization while fostering close and lifelong friendships and my favorite part of Dartmouth was, and continues to be, the people. Highlights were a blustery freshman trip prior to arrival on campus, freshman fall football games, reveling in the cold during Winter Carnivals, a trip to Kenya focused on environmental studies, great friends in Fire & Skoal, and many, many days rowing with the lightweight crew team on the Connecticut River.” And Eben Haber spoke for many of us in reflecting on what he holds dear about Dartmouth: “small classes and close relationships with professors.”

I look forward to hearing from you, too, with your news and updates, and especially your stories about what you love most about Dartmouth, which I will continue to share in the months ahead.

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