Class Note 1999
Hello, ’99s! What a difference a few months make. As I write this, we are still under stay-at-home orders in New Hampshire due to the coronavirus pandemic. I hope you and yours are all healthy and safe.
One positive thing that I have seen come out of these difficult times is the extraordinary ways that people have found to stay connected to each other. Since we can’t physically be with each other, we are making it more of a priority to spend time talking, video chatting, and sending mail. I can’t wait for the time when I can give my parents a real-life hug, but I do want to remember to continue to video call them on a random night when my kids want to say good night, so they can join in the messy chaos of a weeknight bedtime.
An example of a quarantine connection that I hope continues, is the ’99 virtual happy hour. Organized by Damali Rhett Harding, the Zoom call took place on a Saturday afternoon in April. More than 21 members of the class of ’99 participated in the call. It was so great to get to see all the faces of new and old friends from our class and to check in.
Wayne DeBeatham shared what it was like working as a doctor on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic and his struggles with getting his parents to listen and stay home. Ruchi Kaul shared data and information about the pandemic as well as stories about the challenges of keeping small children occupied and educated. Danielle Downing joined us from the Treasure Room at Baker Library and we were all jealous of her fabulous Zoom background! Ann Sharfstein shared some of the challenges that educators are facing and her husband, Dan Mielcarz, told us about how strange it was seeing the labs on campus empty. Other ’99 couples Heather Harnett Ross and Chris Ross and Stephen and Jamie Jackett were there too. Meg Lysy helped organize the call. Catherine Maxson Pieroni, Eric Jenkins, Tony Perry, Ann Debord Smith, and Neelu Jain were there. Sara Zrike was there with her precious new baby, Isabella. Nahoko Kawakyu-O’Connor introduced us to her puppy. Arthur Desrosiers was able to join in quickly after performing surgery. Brian Salazar safely called in hands-free on his way to check on his small business. When Jennifer Anderson signed-off she told us she was going to connect on a call with Victoria Vasquez Soto.Also on the call were Debbi Llewelyn, Eboni Dawkins, Tami Anderson Sullivan,and Joanne Loring.
We all left the call motivated to get together soon for another virtual mini-reunion. The April call was organized through the class of ’99 Facebook page, www.facebook.com/groups/Dartmouth1999. If you want to be a part of the next call and you are not on social media, please get in touch with me and I will be sure to get you the information.
A big thank you to all of our classmates and their loved ones who are on the frontlines of this crisis—as healthcare providers, as essential food chain workers, as scientists, as first responders, as innovators, as elder care workers, as educators, and as those providing care for family members and people in their communities. I am so proud of our class every time I hear of the good work you are all doing out there in the world.
—Jackie Rioux Gladstone, 21 Westwood Circle, Dover, NH 03820; (603) 834-0517; jackie.dartmouth99@gmail.com
