Class Note 1991
Issue
November-December 2021
Greetings, ’91s!
My Connecticut neighbor Deb Karazin Owens asked me to fill in as contributor for this column as we transition to a new slate of class officers. Huge thanks to Deb for keeping up with our class news during the last five years!
Even though our 30th reunion was canceled this year, I know that some classmates gathered for their own mini reunions with close friends this spring and summer. Shoot me an email to tell me about any ’91 gatherings you attended!
The world began to open this spring as people got vaccinated and we could go places! Priscilla Huff says one great feature of the post-vaccination world is finally getting to catch up with people. She flew up to Rochester, New York, on a family matter and caught up with Megan Vaules. They talked about how much they wish we could all meet in Hanover and how our lives have changed during the past 18 months. The other thing Priscilla is talking about with classmates and alumni from neighboring classes is the sale of the radio station, WFRD-WDCR.
Sadly, the Dartmouth radio station family lost one of its own last year, fellow classmate Marc Baptiste. Marc’s friends from Dartmouth radio shared many fond memories of the DJ known as “Batman,” “Grover,” and “Furry Muppet.” Neel Chatterjee writes: “Marc was one of the most inspirational people in my formative experiences on WDCR and WFRD. He was a great DJ. I loved hearing his Trinidad accent showering the airwaves playing some of the greatest ’80s and ’90s rock. He also took on one of the hardest jobs in the radio station: He made sure the radio system worked. I remember him driving up the side of an icy hill to deal with an antenna one snowy night. Most people would just say, ‘Hey, it’s cold outside. I’m not getting paid anything for this. I’m good.’ But not Marc. He was a selfless person who really did everything he could to make us all better.”
Marc Wachen ’89 writes: “Marc was awesome—he was so dedicated to the station. What I remember most about Marc is he was always smiling, always wanting to learn more about how the station worked, always willing to lend a hand. I remember him doing the hard-to-fill 9 p.m.-to-midnight Friday night shift and never complaining. And he was happy to do the dirty work around the station—I can still picture Marc as technical director, with toothpick in hand, cleaning out all the cart machines with care and love because he just wanted the station to be great.”
Carolyne Allen ’89 writes: “I remember him as such a gung-ho, upbeat, and sweet guy, contributing so much to the spirit of the station. He was always willing to help, take on more at either station. Such a good person, so fun to be around.”
Diane DePriest ’89 writes: “Marc was a terrific person. I have many fond memories of Grover enthusiastically hanging out at the station, helping in any capacity, and willing to take unpopular shifts. I remember his curious spirit, big puppy-like eyes and caring heart. I remember this dedication to things he cared about and his stories of Trinidad.” Priscilla summed it up with, “Marc was loyal and loved and such a people person.”
As the College embarks on its year of homecoming, I hope we can all find ways to reconnect with each other in person. Stay safe and send me your updates!
—Sara Burbine Potter, 108 Hillcrest Road, Fairfield, CT 06824; sara_burbine@yahoo.com
My Connecticut neighbor Deb Karazin Owens asked me to fill in as contributor for this column as we transition to a new slate of class officers. Huge thanks to Deb for keeping up with our class news during the last five years!
Even though our 30th reunion was canceled this year, I know that some classmates gathered for their own mini reunions with close friends this spring and summer. Shoot me an email to tell me about any ’91 gatherings you attended!
The world began to open this spring as people got vaccinated and we could go places! Priscilla Huff says one great feature of the post-vaccination world is finally getting to catch up with people. She flew up to Rochester, New York, on a family matter and caught up with Megan Vaules. They talked about how much they wish we could all meet in Hanover and how our lives have changed during the past 18 months. The other thing Priscilla is talking about with classmates and alumni from neighboring classes is the sale of the radio station, WFRD-WDCR.
Sadly, the Dartmouth radio station family lost one of its own last year, fellow classmate Marc Baptiste. Marc’s friends from Dartmouth radio shared many fond memories of the DJ known as “Batman,” “Grover,” and “Furry Muppet.” Neel Chatterjee writes: “Marc was one of the most inspirational people in my formative experiences on WDCR and WFRD. He was a great DJ. I loved hearing his Trinidad accent showering the airwaves playing some of the greatest ’80s and ’90s rock. He also took on one of the hardest jobs in the radio station: He made sure the radio system worked. I remember him driving up the side of an icy hill to deal with an antenna one snowy night. Most people would just say, ‘Hey, it’s cold outside. I’m not getting paid anything for this. I’m good.’ But not Marc. He was a selfless person who really did everything he could to make us all better.”
Marc Wachen ’89 writes: “Marc was awesome—he was so dedicated to the station. What I remember most about Marc is he was always smiling, always wanting to learn more about how the station worked, always willing to lend a hand. I remember him doing the hard-to-fill 9 p.m.-to-midnight Friday night shift and never complaining. And he was happy to do the dirty work around the station—I can still picture Marc as technical director, with toothpick in hand, cleaning out all the cart machines with care and love because he just wanted the station to be great.”
Carolyne Allen ’89 writes: “I remember him as such a gung-ho, upbeat, and sweet guy, contributing so much to the spirit of the station. He was always willing to help, take on more at either station. Such a good person, so fun to be around.”
Diane DePriest ’89 writes: “Marc was a terrific person. I have many fond memories of Grover enthusiastically hanging out at the station, helping in any capacity, and willing to take unpopular shifts. I remember his curious spirit, big puppy-like eyes and caring heart. I remember this dedication to things he cared about and his stories of Trinidad.” Priscilla summed it up with, “Marc was loyal and loved and such a people person.”
As the College embarks on its year of homecoming, I hope we can all find ways to reconnect with each other in person. Stay safe and send me your updates!
—Sara Burbine Potter, 108 Hillcrest Road, Fairfield, CT 06824; sara_burbine@yahoo.com