Class Note 1983
Issue
March - April 2026
Class Note 1983. Happy New Year to all! It’s Maren Christensen, your newsletter editor, and I’m guest writing the Class Notes at the end of December. I’m sure by the time you read this column, all of your New Year’s resolutions will be long forgotten. Does anyone bother to make New Year’s resolutions anymore?
Guy Bacigalupi got married on September 19 at San Francisco City Hall to his long-term partner, Julie Sertel. They had a small dinner reception with family and a couple of ’83s—Alex Stein, Geoff Durno, and Paul Fechtelkotter—in Healdsburg, California, the next night. It was warm enough to have dinner outside, and afterwards people hung out by the pool, played bocce, and drank wine. Guy and Julie are still in Dublin, Ireland, but are seriously looking at moving back to the Bay Area, especially on those gray and damp rainy days. They’re getting help with the crazy San Francisco real estate universe from Cary Bernstein ’84. Guy also shares: “Finally, a couple of classmates are looking to move their center of gravity back to this side of the pond”—Bill Balcke and Larry Ramin (“well, Larry is more half and half”).
And speaking of Ireland, Mac Gardner writes that he “discovered a beautiful corner of the world in Waterville, Ireland, at the intersection of calmness, golf, and Guinness! Looking to spend 90-plus days there and hoping to connect with Guy Bacigalupi.” Mac also spent a weekend on Nantucket, Massachusetts, in November, celebrating Jeff Shapiro’s birthday along with David Grubman and Liz Neisloss. Mac adds: “Fishing trips earlier this year with Reed Webster and Rob Rohn made 2025 a banner year all in all. Looking forward to 2026!”
The Alumni Awards season is underway, and the class of 1983 is proud to announce two classmate recipients: Andre Hunter and Dan Drais.
Andre earned his recognition by embodying the spirit and community of our class. He supported and led the friends of Dartmouth rowing for 20-plus years, plus served on class council through many years in several roles, including co-president. His leadership and contributions to the class, the College, and the rowing community deservedly led to this recognition.
Volunteer Officer Experience (VOX) is the Dartmouth event that supports classes, clubs, and communities. Each year these groups and alumni relations award organizations that provide new ideas for engagement, show creative approaches to tasks, and lead the way across all the alumni organizations. This year, the Dartmouth Climate Alliance, led by president Dan Drais, won the Communities Award for its exceptional, organized leadership and impressive momentum.
It’s with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of Stuart Birdt and Rich Lena. Full obituaries are published on our website. Our condolences to their families and friends.
—Shanta Sullivan, 1541 North Sierra Bonita Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046; shantaesullivan@gmail.com
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Guy Bacigalupi got married on September 19 at San Francisco City Hall to his long-term partner, Julie Sertel. They had a small dinner reception with family and a couple of ’83s—Alex Stein, Geoff Durno, and Paul Fechtelkotter—in Healdsburg, California, the next night. It was warm enough to have dinner outside, and afterwards people hung out by the pool, played bocce, and drank wine. Guy and Julie are still in Dublin, Ireland, but are seriously looking at moving back to the Bay Area, especially on those gray and damp rainy days. They’re getting help with the crazy San Francisco real estate universe from Cary Bernstein ’84. Guy also shares: “Finally, a couple of classmates are looking to move their center of gravity back to this side of the pond”—Bill Balcke and Larry Ramin (“well, Larry is more half and half”).
And speaking of Ireland, Mac Gardner writes that he “discovered a beautiful corner of the world in Waterville, Ireland, at the intersection of calmness, golf, and Guinness! Looking to spend 90-plus days there and hoping to connect with Guy Bacigalupi.” Mac also spent a weekend on Nantucket, Massachusetts, in November, celebrating Jeff Shapiro’s birthday along with David Grubman and Liz Neisloss. Mac adds: “Fishing trips earlier this year with Reed Webster and Rob Rohn made 2025 a banner year all in all. Looking forward to 2026!”
The Alumni Awards season is underway, and the class of 1983 is proud to announce two classmate recipients: Andre Hunter and Dan Drais.
Andre earned his recognition by embodying the spirit and community of our class. He supported and led the friends of Dartmouth rowing for 20-plus years, plus served on class council through many years in several roles, including co-president. His leadership and contributions to the class, the College, and the rowing community deservedly led to this recognition.
Volunteer Officer Experience (VOX) is the Dartmouth event that supports classes, clubs, and communities. Each year these groups and alumni relations award organizations that provide new ideas for engagement, show creative approaches to tasks, and lead the way across all the alumni organizations. This year, the Dartmouth Climate Alliance, led by president Dan Drais, won the Communities Award for its exceptional, organized leadership and impressive momentum.
It’s with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of Stuart Birdt and Rich Lena. Full obituaries are published on our website. Our condolences to their families and friends.
—Shanta Sullivan, 1541 North Sierra Bonita Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046; shantaesullivan@gmail.com