Class Note 1991
Lots of big career and charity work news from classmates to report this month!
On July 1 A. Lee Burns III was announced as the next headmaster of McCallie School, an all-boys college preparatory school located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Lee is a third-generation alumnus of McCallie, and he takes over the job next summer, after the 2013-14 school year is completed. After Dartmouth Lee earned his master’s in educational administration at Harvard University, and he has spent the past 13 years as headmaster of Presbyterian Day School in Memphis, Tennessee.
When I caught up with Carrie Heinonen at last year’s reunion up in Hanover, she was living in Chicago and loving it. Now the Tucson, Arizona, native has returned to her home state for her new position as president and director of the Phoenix, Arizona, Musical Instrument Museum, effective August 1. Since Dartmouth Carrie has worked in management positions at various companies, including the William Wrigley Jr. Co., Quaker Oats and the Art Institute of Chicago, as well as serving on boards of various charitable and artistic organizations. So if you’re visiting Phoenix be sure to stop by the museum and say hi!
Dick Rinkema wrote in with some exciting news about the charitable work that he and several classmates are doing. “Arun Ramanathan, David A. Stern and I recently helped Hoyoung Huh launch a new charitable organization, the Healthcare & Humanity Foundation (www.hhfglobal.org), at a fundraiser at Hoyoung’s house in Silicon Valley. The foundation draws on Hoyoung’s experience as a doctor and biotechnology entrepreneur. Its mission is to ‘improve access to affordable, high-quality healthcare globally and to expand access to innovative community development programs.’ Right now we are trying to raise money for a new mobile clinic in rural Ecuador. My law firm stepped up to do the legal work on a pro bono basis, and Arun and David have given valuable, ongoing input and advice. The idea for the foundation started back at Dartmouth when we lived in the off-campus dwelling known as ‘Ho’s Happy Home’ and we have refined the concept through the years. It is really exciting that after all these years it’s a reality. If people are interested in helping out or donating, please refer to the website or folks can reach out to any of us. We are planning launch events in New York, D.C., Hong Kong and London this year, so we hope classmates can attend and participate!”
Closer to Hanover, Mel Hall has been busy over the past two years rebuilding his White River Junction, Vermont-based business after flooding from Tropical Storm Irene decimated the facilities back in 2011. Tastes of Africa, the business he founded with his wife, Damaris, is a catering and food preparation company. At the time the flooding hit Mel and Damaris had just completed a business expansion project to support a new food distribution contract; in the aftermath of Irene, with the help of the community as well as government assistance to small businesses, the pair was able to quickly relocate operations and resume business. Now they are once again looking to grow their distribution network; currently available in many stores in the Upper Valley, Mel and Damaris plan to take the Mel’s Gourmet brand of ready-to-eat prepared foods to regional and national markets. Check out Tastes of Africa on Facebook: www.facebook.com/melsgourmetworldcuisine.
Lots of happenings up in Hanover this month, including Homecoming and Alumni Council meetings, where I expect to see classmates John Pepper and Jeff Solomon. Looking forward to getting more of your updates!
—Sara Burbine Potter, 108 Hillcrest Road, Fairfield, CT 06824; sara_burbine@yahoo.com
