Class Note 1977. Anticipating the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, Jay MacNamee is producing a short film inspired by classmates Joe Flounders and Bob Overhiser, who were in the South Tower of the World Trade Center that morning. Both men exhibited the kind of compassion and selflessness that exemplify the Dartmouth spirit. In Jay’s telling, “While descending the stairs to safety, Joe volunteered to return to the 84th floor to assist a distressed colleague. He was lost to us. Bob stopped during his descent to help a disabled person down more than 50 excruciating flights, exiting the building moments before it collapsed. Nine months later, at our 25th reunion, Bob shared his harrowing story, inspiring me to write a 10-minute play, Do I Look Like Your Wife?, about the final minutes of two strangers trapped on the roof of a burning skyscraper. Jennifer Leigh Warren and Rick Stillman presented a reading of it at Nora Odendahl’s 30th reunion ‘Authors & Artists’ panel. Years later film producer Chase Bailey asked me to turn it into a screenplay so he could use it as a nonprofit. He raised enough funds (including from me and Bob) to bring the film 60 percent to completion before he unexpectedly died. I recently assumed the role of producer, hustling to finish it for this year’s Tribeca Festival. Fingers crossed.”
Cliffhanger! Will Jay be able to pull this off in time to honor Joe and Bob in N.Y.C.? Sounds like a great mini-reunion to me! To learn more, contact Jay at TenSecondsFilm.org or jbmacnamee77@gmail.com.
Many attendees at our Santa Fe, New Mexico, event had the pleasure of hanging out with ’77 social media maven Susan Van Wie Gabrels and her talented husband, musician Reeves, throughout the weekend. We were delighted that Reeves (along with his band The Cure) was recently awarded two Grammys for alternative music (for the song “Alone” and the album Songs of a Lost World). Congratulations to Reeves and his inspiration, Susan!
Peter Mills reports his labor of ’77 love, “Guides and Seekers” network, is working. “I got an email on January 2 from a classmate just diagnosed with large B cell lymphoma. Not fun! I scanned our list of guides and sent out requests to ask if any of them could talk with our classmate. Within 24 hours I got four replies and connected three guides to the classmate in need. If you are seeking advice or a friendly soul to chat about health and aging issues or someone who can offer relevant experience and counsel, please contact me at pbmsv@icloud.com or (650) 302-2513. To date there are 55 guides with a wide variety of experience, including in cancer, cardiology, substance problems, family issues, and artificial joints.”
Are you in our BrightCrowd digital 50th reunion yearbook yet? If not, contact Edy Ullman edy2ullman@comcast.net pronto and she will set you up!
Be seen, be heard! Send news and pics. Not getting class emails and e-newsletters? Call the alumni help desk at (603) 646-3202 to update your email and snail mail addresses.
—A.P. Duffy, 15 River Road, Gloucester, MA 01930; (203) 979-2234; apduffy77@gmail.com