I trust and hope all my fellow ’96s out there have had a wonderful summer filled with great escapades, valued down time with those they love and fond memories to cherish. As we wind down the warmer months of the year and head into the gradual cooling of autumn, I’ve heard from several classmates who have recently been quite busy with new developments and great escapades in their lives.
Ben Brainard passed along news of an inspiring trip about which some of us amateur zoologists can only dream. Ben, who is an associate professor with the intensive care unit at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine, recently returned from Cameroon, where he was part of a team from the Great Ape Heart Project. While in country the team anesthetized and evaluated the cardiac health of more than 45 chimpanzees and gorillas in a wildlife sanctuary there. The project’s overall goal is to understand the pathogenesis of cardiac disease in great apes so that it may be diagnosed and treated in captive apes (for more info check out http://greatapeproject.org). Ben said that “when not anesthetizing interesting species, I am still working and teaching at UGA” and that he speaks regularly with many fellow ’96s—who “all assure him that they are doing well.” I hope said ’96s will assure the rest of us of their wellness in a future Class Notes column!
While busily preparing a Chicago mini-reunion for our class and adjoining classes, Justin Heather told me of some exciting professional developments in his life. Justin, a founding partner Chicago-based law firm Korey Cotter Heather & Richardson who specializes in complex commercial litigation and international arbitration, was recently elected to serve a two-year term on the Chicago Bar Association’s board of managers. The position arose as a result of his having served as chair of the young lawyers section of the Chicago Bar Association from 2011 to 2012 (a group that includes more than 9,000 members within its ranks), as well as taking first place in five categories within the awards of achievement given by the American Bar Association’s young lawyers division for 2012. As if this undertaking would not keep him busy enough, Justin also told me he would be going on his own and will be opening his own law firm in July. Looks like someone has a busy summer and fall ahead of him—best of luck all-around, Justin!
Speaking of new ventures, I am happy to report that Eliza Barry Riker and her husband, Andrew Riker ’97, are the proud parents of newly arrived Aaron Samuel Barry Riker. Aaron was welcomed into the world on June 18 at a healthy 9 pounds, 14 ounces, and joins elder sister Lilah, who is apparently ecstatic to be a big sister! The now-expanded family of four resides in beautiful Hamilton, Bermuda. Definitely a summer to remember for them.
And with that I bid our class adieu until the next column; but before I do I want to implore all ’96s far and wide to please write (or type) in with your updates big and small! And don’t forget to mark your calendars: Our 20th (okay, officially our 19th) class reunion is now less than two years away in June 2015! The executive committee is looking for volunteers to help plan reunion, so reach out to our class leadership today and let them know you would like to help!
—Garrett Gil de Rubio, 1062 Middlebrooke Drive, Canton, GA 30115; ggdr@alum.dartmouth.org
