Wellness, mental health, storytelling to strengthen our community, and connection were some themes during our recent 40th reunion. During breakfast on Friday and Saturday morning, Bruce Redman, and Kathy Bowler Mitchell were among several class members facilitating table discussions on pressing topics many of us face entering this new decade. Some topics included “Supporting Addicted Relatives,” “Caring for Aging Parents,” “Angel Investing,” and “Parenting LGBTQ Children.”

Classmates who participated in a service project for the Upper Valley Haven included Clay Spears, Anne Davidson Barr, and Jean Gleason. During our first reunion lunch Friday, on the lawn of McNutt, classmates voted to retain most of our existing class officers: Walter Foster and Martha Gehren, co-presidents; Shelley Drake Hawks, vice president; Robin Henning Rocchi, communications coordinator; and Mike Hjerpe, Alumni Council representative.

All class officers are listed on the back of the ’83 newsletters. We have two class officer openings: head agent for the Dartmouth College Fund and planned giving chair. Contact Walter Foster at wfoster@eckertseamans.com for information.

In a departure from traditional reunion programming, two storytelling events by classmates were scheduled on Friday. “Writing Our Next Chapters (Lives)” touched on second careers, spirituality, philanthropy, and hobbies. Speakers included Anne Blanchard, Joe Dempsey, and Steve Baggott. “The Stories of Our Lives” touched upon frightening health challenges, life in the Amazon, practicing medicine in Rwanda, and diverse parenting experiences. Speakers included Neil Donnenfeld, Alix Casler Friend, Laszlo Madaras, Lisa Ottaviano McLaughlin, and Mario Cohn-Haft.

Saturday morning President Beilock gave an address to the 2023 reunion classes, which was followed by a fascinating conversation on leadership with Nike CEO John Donahoe ’82. He broke the ice by presenting her with green-and-white Air Jordans; she rocked the Jordans.

Due to the rainy conditions, our 40th lunch with the ’82s and ’84s took place in Leverone. Lively conversations of shared, as well as different, life experiences continued. We were later entertained by the Reunion Glee Club singers, including Natalie Hulen Diana and Chris Koller. Their program included Dartmouth favorites. For “Dear Old Dartmouth,” the Glee Club and members of all three classes sang.

Mike Hjerpe reported on the alumni row. His boat included Andre Hunter (coxswain), Bill Middlesworth, Jeff Gardner, and Anni Dupre Santry.“Thoughts of glory days called my name. Risky as it was, a bunch of 60-somethings strapped in for a 60-minute paddle on the Connecticut—no broken bones or equipment. (We rowed in a national team boat—who’s crazy idea was that?)”

At twilight many of us gathered in Rollins Chapel for a memorial service for departed classmates. It was led by Rabbi David Stern, and Kevin Connolly performed poignant music. It was beautifully nuanced between loss and life celebration.

We had a delightful final class dinner, which was unexpectedly moved to the ballrooms of The Hanover Inn. Our reunion was awesome! Just wish we had five more days to catch up with everyone and hear about some of the places they’ve gone and the people they’ve seen.

—Shanta Sullivan, 1541 North Sierra Bonita Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046; shantaesullivan@gmail.com; Elliot Stultz, 2600 N. Flagler Drive, #503, West Palm Beach, FL 33407; elliotstultz@yahoo.com