Class Note 1984. I’m not sure if alumni records is keeping track, but this is definitely one for the record books! Some years ago, one of our fabulous former class secretaries reported on a serendipitous meeting between the daughter of Mindy Marsh and Jim Bloomer ’83 and the son of Carla Small and Bob Cronin. Kelley Bloomer ’14 and Brendan Cronin ’15 crossed paths as undergrads, fell in love, married, and are now adding a baby to the Dartmouth family. With two alums as parents and four as grandparents, this little one will undoubtedly be showered with Dartmouth onesies, Dr. Seuss stories, and plenty of love and attention from a cohort of Big Green “grands!”
Congratulations to Deborah Schupack, whose latest book has won The Louisville Review National Poetry Contest! When We Were Gun, a collection of narrative poetry, explores the collective conscience of elementary school parents gathered outside a school shooting. A vivid and urgent choral voice emerges as the parents try to make sense of the new fault line between the everyday and the end of the world. Kudos to Deborah for grappling with this most serious subject matter and the threat that remains all too real for America’s children, parents, and educators. For those in the Upper Valley, check with the Norwich (Vermont) Bookstore, where Deborah plans on doing a reading in February or March.
David Mann, following retirement from Dunkin’ Brands, has been named copresident of the board of trustees of the Brookline (Massachusetts) Community Foundation (BCF). BCF uses community donations to make grants to local nonprofits; serves as a resource, convener and research leader; and is launching UpTogether Brookline, a pilot that provides $750 a month for one year to 55 Brookline residents living in public housing or receiving governmental rental assistance. It’s one of hundreds of initiatives nationwide that are demonstrating how unrestricted cash investments lead to greater stability, opportunity, and autonomy for people experiencing financial hardship. David’s vital work with like-minded leaders is helping him connect to his community while making it more just. He’s also taking (and teaching) courses at the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement, playing tennis and squash, and spending time with his two teens.
“Greet the world from the hills with a hail!” Jamie Watkins turned lyrics into action on a spectacular September day at Snowmass Village, Colorado, when he spotted an approaching hiker churning up the hill in a Dartmouth T-shirt. Jamie shouted out, “Go Dartmouth,” hummed a few bars of the alma mater, and quickly discovered his fellow hiker was Gary Levine ’82, “looking like a million bucks!” Jamie checked in from Pitzal, Austria, where he was working in his official capacity as a physician for the U.S. ski team at a downhill training camp; team member Sam Morse ’20 was among the participants. Jamie was eagerly anticipating a major giant slalom event the following day in nearby Sölden. Turns out Mikaela Shiffrin had an impressive fourth-place finish in the Alpine season opener, giving Jamie even more reason to cheer!
—Deana Washburn, 209 Casino Ave., Cranford, NJ 07016; deanadw@aol.com