This month I am so sad to start my column with the news of the loss of our classmate, Bret Megargel. While at Dartmouth Bret was a defensive back on the football team, an economics major, and a much-loved Alpha Delta brother. After Dartmouth Bret earned his M.B.A. from Stanford University and went on to have a successful career in venture capitalism in the healthcare arena. He was a devoted husband, father, and son, and is survived by his wife, four children, mother, and stepfather. I reached out to some of Bret’s fraternity brothers and friends, and I am so thankful for these lovely words that were sent to me by Todd Young, John Pepper, and Chris Downie: “Bret’s fraternity nickname was ‘Happy.’ This positive moniker was intentional. Bret had a literal bounce to his step and a natural smile and laugh that elevated the energy of any conversation he participated in or any room he entered. He brought a welcome level of intensity in every situation. He was a great friend of so many and will be remembered as a fun loving, smart, hardworking, family man. Whether he was lighting up opposing football players with his vicious tackles or founding a healthcare company, Bret will always be remembered as a force to be reckoned with—and a man with a heart of gold.”

Kudos to our classmate Jacqueline Keeler. Jaqueline recently published a book, Standoff: Standing Rock, the Bundy Movement, and the American Story of Sacred Lands. Kirkus reviewed it, and here is a snippet of what was said: “Keeler, a Dine/Ihanktonwan Dakota writer based in Portland, Oregon, chronicles two major American standoffs that bookended 2016: white men with guns fighting for unfettered exploitation of natural resources and Native Americans fighting for treaty rights…the Bundy takeover of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s demand for consultation over the Dakota Access Pipeline.” Recounting the standoffs, the author offers a potent study in contrast in how these two events were handled by the people involved, the media, and the government.

In other fascinating nonfiction entertainment news, we have classmate Jarmal Richard. Jarmal lives in Australia and is the subject of a new independent documentary called Run the Otways, about ultra-running in the Great Otway National Forest in Victoria, Australia. The heartfelt film, which can be viewed on YouTube, focuses on how ultra-running can foster a deep human connection to nature.

Finally, a huge congrats to Taylor Haber, the son of our classmate Brett Haber, who will be joining the great Dartmouth class of 2025! After the acceptance, Brett took Taylor up to Hanover for a special visit and an overnight at the Hanover Inn. Here’s what proud-dad Brett had to say about this moment: “I put Dartmouth songs on in the car for the last 15 minutes as we were approaching Hanover, and I don’t mind confessing that I wept like a baby. He didn’t even eye-roll me. He understood. If losing my oldest from under my roof had a silver lining, this is surely it.”

I have one more column as class secretary before I hand off the reigns to the next 1991 chronicler. So please send me your news and have a warm, healthy, safe summer!

—Deb Karazin Owens, 166 Colonial Drive, Fairfield, CT 06824; djowens@optonline.net