Class Note 1998
Issue
November-December 2021
Hello, ’98s. I write with a renewed affinity for you and for Dartmouth. Last month I visited the College; my first time there in nearly 10 years. It was wonderful to walk the now-sprawling campus with my wife and kids (2 and 5). I also met up with old friends Belinda Chiu and Dave Smith. Another highlight was staying at a bed and breakfast in Lyme, New Hampshire, and talking Dartmouth with proprietor Rich Yurko ’75.
Jen Tetler and wife Emily Battle ’05 now have two 2.5-year-olds. Jen and Emily were pregnant at the same time—they swapped embryos and gave birth two months apart. For Jen, raising kids is finally getting easier. This summer Jen had a breakthrough Covid infection. It was a mild case, although she lost her sense of smell for a few days. In addition Jen teaches science at an independent high school in Oakland, California.
Shannon (Jarosh) Walsh wrote en route to South Bend, Indiana, with husband Kevin Walsh to drop off their oldest child at Notre Dame University. Shannon and Kevin are just getting started, as they have five more children at home, ranging in age from 2 to 15. Shannon is an emergency medicine physician at an academic medical center in Richmond, Virginia. Covid has deeply impacted her day-to-day experience. Last August she contracted the virus. Thankfully, her symptoms were mild and her family stayed healthy. For Shannon it is difficult to see Covid case numbers trending in the wrong direction. She encourages anyone who has not to get vaccinated.
Karen Lefrak is also an emergency medicine physician. During the pandemic her emotions have run the gamut of “exhaustion, worry, gratitude, concern, pride in my team, feeling appreciated (briefly), frustration, hopefulness, compassion fatigue, feeling underappreciated, elation, irritation, positivism, resentment, gratefulness, dismay, more frustration, more exhaustion, and more hopefulness.” Karen and her medical colleagues are searching for light at the end of the tunnel. On a positive note, Karen feels fortunate that last year her daughter’s school did an excellent job providing in-person education.
Andrea (Stern) Himoff and Adam Himoff appreciate how living in Park City, Utah, has allowed them and their two girls to get outdoors during the pandemic. These times have inspired Andrea and Adam to prioritize what matters. Adam has turned most of his focus to his art, creating contemporary and pop-infused linocut, digital, and painted pieces with a humorous and provocative twist. You can check out Adam’s work on Instagram. Andrea has leaped into politics to launch the U.S. senate campaign of Becky Edwards, a former Utah legislator running against Mike Lee in 2022. Andrea and Adam have recently had fewer visitors than usual. Nonetheless, they welcomed Peter Lanfer and wife Sarah Drew, who was acting in a new TV series filming in Salt Lake City. The Himoffs also saw Kara (Josephberg) Paldino and family during their stays in Park City and Aspen, Colorado. Despite recently evacuating her house due to a wildfire threat, Andrea wrote that life is good.
And there you have it—the latest from our class. Keep the updates coming. I love hearing from you.
—Gabe Galletti, 4000 Utah Ave., Nashville, TN 37209; galletti@gmail.com
Jen Tetler and wife Emily Battle ’05 now have two 2.5-year-olds. Jen and Emily were pregnant at the same time—they swapped embryos and gave birth two months apart. For Jen, raising kids is finally getting easier. This summer Jen had a breakthrough Covid infection. It was a mild case, although she lost her sense of smell for a few days. In addition Jen teaches science at an independent high school in Oakland, California.
Shannon (Jarosh) Walsh wrote en route to South Bend, Indiana, with husband Kevin Walsh to drop off their oldest child at Notre Dame University. Shannon and Kevin are just getting started, as they have five more children at home, ranging in age from 2 to 15. Shannon is an emergency medicine physician at an academic medical center in Richmond, Virginia. Covid has deeply impacted her day-to-day experience. Last August she contracted the virus. Thankfully, her symptoms were mild and her family stayed healthy. For Shannon it is difficult to see Covid case numbers trending in the wrong direction. She encourages anyone who has not to get vaccinated.
Karen Lefrak is also an emergency medicine physician. During the pandemic her emotions have run the gamut of “exhaustion, worry, gratitude, concern, pride in my team, feeling appreciated (briefly), frustration, hopefulness, compassion fatigue, feeling underappreciated, elation, irritation, positivism, resentment, gratefulness, dismay, more frustration, more exhaustion, and more hopefulness.” Karen and her medical colleagues are searching for light at the end of the tunnel. On a positive note, Karen feels fortunate that last year her daughter’s school did an excellent job providing in-person education.
Andrea (Stern) Himoff and Adam Himoff appreciate how living in Park City, Utah, has allowed them and their two girls to get outdoors during the pandemic. These times have inspired Andrea and Adam to prioritize what matters. Adam has turned most of his focus to his art, creating contemporary and pop-infused linocut, digital, and painted pieces with a humorous and provocative twist. You can check out Adam’s work on Instagram. Andrea has leaped into politics to launch the U.S. senate campaign of Becky Edwards, a former Utah legislator running against Mike Lee in 2022. Andrea and Adam have recently had fewer visitors than usual. Nonetheless, they welcomed Peter Lanfer and wife Sarah Drew, who was acting in a new TV series filming in Salt Lake City. The Himoffs also saw Kara (Josephberg) Paldino and family during their stays in Park City and Aspen, Colorado. Despite recently evacuating her house due to a wildfire threat, Andrea wrote that life is good.
And there you have it—the latest from our class. Keep the updates coming. I love hearing from you.
—Gabe Galletti, 4000 Utah Ave., Nashville, TN 37209; galletti@gmail.com