Class Note 1977
Issue
September-October 2026
Class Note 1977. Less than a year out from our 50th reunion in Hanover June 10-13, 2027, your reunion committee has been busy! Dee Dee Simpson, Leslie Bradford, Nancy Vespoli,andI convened in Hanover to observe the fabulous 50th thrown by the great class of 1976 in June, expertly organized by chairs Fern Bennett Phillips and Kipp Barker and giving chairs Martha and Jim Beattie to name a few. They were graciously welcoming, happy to share their insider intel.
Hanover was sizzling with ’77 spirit. On our way to scope out the festive ’76 tent next to Dick’s House (likely our tent location next June), we spied Pete Volanakis lounging on his stately veranda at the stunning Occom Ridge home where he and Cathy will host our Thursday welcome reception June 10, 2027. Conveniently located next to Nancy (Bird) and Vin Pellegrini’s, Pete just beckons across the yard to snare Vin and Ro Griggs for frequent “golfsomes.”
At the tent, we were happily greeted by Michelle Stacy and Kim York, in attendance with ’76 spouses Bud and Bruce. We lunched at the alumni relations “Class Connections” event as the ’76s honored the graduating class of 2026. Our Class Connections ambassador Barry Harwick will tee up a similar lunch next year with the class of 2027.
Later at Pine, we were delighted to hug both Mark Carlie and Kevin Carlie with wives Marie and Tere, in town celebrating with many ’76s. Mark and Marie went on to join queen Jean and Michael Walsh on a posh Mediterranean cruise the following week. The Carlie bros promise to be back next June for our reunion. We also ran into Hitchcock dormmate Jeff Crowe ’78, attending his last trustee meeting.
After dinner at 5 Old Nugget Alley (scene of the crime for my lowbrow townie barmaid shenanigans with Sandy Smallwood Rendall ’78), we ran into Mike Choukas and Paul Detweiler at the tent, reminding us of reunions past when Mike and Amy Cholnoky closed down our Heorot-facing tent at 3 a.m. throwing back tankards of hydrogen hydroxide.
Saturday’s trustees lunch proved especially moving, as John Kemeny’s recent 100th birthday was celebrated. I wish Rob Kemeny was still with us for that. I will always remember his parents’ Volvos bearing N.H. plates “BASIC” and “LOGIC” parked beneath 203 Hitchcock and sitting in Math 7 with Edy Ullman making book on when Kemeny’s ever-lengthening cigarette ash (a Benson & Hedges 100 elegantly clad in a holder, no doubt pinched from Jean, wielded to emphasize a critical theorem) would eventually succumb to Newton’s law of universal gravitation and hit the deck.
Having attended numerous 50ths, Gail Gentes has agreed to serve as special reunion advisor, and we’re counting on her sidekick Phil Hanlon to assist treasurer Chuck Dana with the intricate maths and gazintas of reunion financing.
Make your plans and room reservations now—more info at dar7mou7h.com.
Have you seen our BrightCrowd digital 50th reunion yearbook? Contactedy2ullman@comcast.net to be set up! Let me know who you want to see at reunion and why!
—A.P. Duffy, 15 River Road, Gloucester MA 01930; (203) 979-2234; apduffy77@gmail.com
Back to 1977 Class Year
More of 1977 Class Notes
Hanover was sizzling with ’77 spirit. On our way to scope out the festive ’76 tent next to Dick’s House (likely our tent location next June), we spied Pete Volanakis lounging on his stately veranda at the stunning Occom Ridge home where he and Cathy will host our Thursday welcome reception June 10, 2027. Conveniently located next to Nancy (Bird) and Vin Pellegrini’s, Pete just beckons across the yard to snare Vin and Ro Griggs for frequent “golfsomes.”
At the tent, we were happily greeted by Michelle Stacy and Kim York, in attendance with ’76 spouses Bud and Bruce. We lunched at the alumni relations “Class Connections” event as the ’76s honored the graduating class of 2026. Our Class Connections ambassador Barry Harwick will tee up a similar lunch next year with the class of 2027.
Later at Pine, we were delighted to hug both Mark Carlie and Kevin Carlie with wives Marie and Tere, in town celebrating with many ’76s. Mark and Marie went on to join queen Jean and Michael Walsh on a posh Mediterranean cruise the following week. The Carlie bros promise to be back next June for our reunion. We also ran into Hitchcock dormmate Jeff Crowe ’78, attending his last trustee meeting.
After dinner at 5 Old Nugget Alley (scene of the crime for my lowbrow townie barmaid shenanigans with Sandy Smallwood Rendall ’78), we ran into Mike Choukas and Paul Detweiler at the tent, reminding us of reunions past when Mike and Amy Cholnoky closed down our Heorot-facing tent at 3 a.m. throwing back tankards of hydrogen hydroxide.
Saturday’s trustees lunch proved especially moving, as John Kemeny’s recent 100th birthday was celebrated. I wish Rob Kemeny was still with us for that. I will always remember his parents’ Volvos bearing N.H. plates “BASIC” and “LOGIC” parked beneath 203 Hitchcock and sitting in Math 7 with Edy Ullman making book on when Kemeny’s ever-lengthening cigarette ash (a Benson & Hedges 100 elegantly clad in a holder, no doubt pinched from Jean, wielded to emphasize a critical theorem) would eventually succumb to Newton’s law of universal gravitation and hit the deck.
Having attended numerous 50ths, Gail Gentes has agreed to serve as special reunion advisor, and we’re counting on her sidekick Phil Hanlon to assist treasurer Chuck Dana with the intricate maths and gazintas of reunion financing.
Make your plans and room reservations now—more info at dar7mou7h.com.
Have you seen our BrightCrowd digital 50th reunion yearbook? Contactedy2ullman@comcast.net to be set up! Let me know who you want to see at reunion and why!
—A.P. Duffy, 15 River Road, Gloucester MA 01930; (203) 979-2234; apduffy77@gmail.com