After 20 years, Jennie Norman and her husband have become veterans of safaris in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Botswana. This past winter Jennie paired up with her bestie, Loren Bachelder Wright, who was going on her first Kenyan safari and visit to the Africancontinent. The two have traveled together for 42-plus years since their foreign study program in Toulouse, France, junior fall.This most recent journey of eight included two Dartmouth ’85s: Mark and Kathy Gross. Old friends of Jennie’s, third-generation Kenyans who combine tourism and conservation, planned the trip. They own a few of the beautifully situated accommodations where the group stayed, including a hilltop lodge with a view of Mount Kenya. Highlights of the safari included Borana Conservancy, a 30,000-acre area where black and white rhino and other endangered species are protected. Then Jennie loved visiting Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, an orphanage for baby elephants that are eventually reintegrated into the wild. Jennie shares that her group “observed the daily milk feedings of the babes and later joined them at their wateringhole and mud bath. One female was interested in my face and hair and explored both with the tip of her trunk! It was one of the most magical moments of my life.”Loren recalls, “The first night we lay awake in our tent listening to lions for two hours followed by a cacophony of rhythmic bird calls as the sun rose. Truly glorious!”

Meanwhile, on the slopes of Park City, Utah, Mike Peltz, Bruce Andrus, Alan Eagle, and Jens Robinson gathered for a ski reunion of their winter term of 1982 in Aspen, Colorado. Mike notes, “This was the first time in four decades that we all hit the slopes together—and it was a blast! Alan and Bruce can still shred the double black diamonds—but the best part of the week was just hanging out again.” They also skied with Greg Curhan, who was wintering in Park City with his wife, Randi. Another ski reunion is planned for next year, along with Howard Brick, their Alpha Chi Alpha brother and fellow of the original winter 1982 crew.

Maren Christensen launched a virtual book club in February: “D83 Zoom Book Group.” David Ellis, our class mini-reunions chair, N.Y.C., led the first discussion on retirement and the next chapter of our lives, along with Arthur Brooks’ book From Strength to Strength. Steve Hart, one of the 23 participants, offered, “After 30 years of practicing architecture, I have shifted my focus completely. I am working toward a graduate degree in education, specifically teaching emerging bilingual students. I miss the contact with colleagues but enjoy the challenge of being a student again and exploring a whole new realm.”

Please note that on May 3-5 the Dartmouth Asian Pacific American Alumni Association (DAPAAA) will celebrate its 25th anniversary with virtual and on-campus events (https://alumni.dartmouth.edu/events/dapaaa-25-our-history-our-voices-ou…).

Finally, we are sad to report that Rich Diver passed away on November 15, 2023. More at dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/obits.

—Shanta Sullivan, 1541 North Sierra Bonita Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046; shantaesullivan@gmail.com