I’m happy to report that my ploy of an almost empty column a few months back worked! I got news from first-timers!


George Linzer sent in an update: “So our empty column in the latest alumni magazine shamed me enough to shake off my apathy and make my first-ever contribution. I’ve been living in Arlington, Virginia, for the last 20 or so years with my wife, Hope, and our kids. Zach’s now a sophomore at Colorado University-Boulder, Isabel is a high school junior looking at playing softball in college and my wife is just now embarking on a singer-songwriter career (check out SuburbanHearts.com). Eleven years ago I launched a patient education website, labtestsonline.org, for a medical laboratory association and I’m now a better patient because of all I’ve learned through the years. I keep in touch sporadically with several alums, more now thanks to Facebook, and just had dinner with Dr. R.W. Satterthwaite last weekend. And if Bill and Jud are up for it, I will make it to our 30th.”


I also managed to guilt Kris Thomas from Bozeman, Montana, into dropping us a line. “The last few years I have spent homeschooling and taking care of my son, who has had some serious health problems. I keep busy and social with nonprofit work—chairing the local chapter of Farm to School and a group that works on pollution issues in Montana and serving on the board of the Bozeman Community Food Cooperative. “


Kris thinks that she is no longer the only ’83 in Montana. She has seen Lisa Densmore’s byline in the Montana press. Lisa, please confirm!


Geoff Apthorp lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, working as vice president of business development and engineering for Environmental Solutions Group, a Dover Co. that is involved in manufacturing recycling equipment. He and his wife, Tammy, celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2011. They have boys Dylan and Connor, aged 20 and 16, respectively. Dylan will graduate from his engineering program at State University of New York, Cobleskill, in June.


Monique Abner is a plastic surgeon in private practice in Charlotte, North Carolina. She does everything from breast reductions to skin cancer resection and treatment. “In my spare time I am enjoying Argentine tango, teaching a dance class and pursuing my art. Please tell classmate Tim Geithner that if he comes to the Democratic National Convention, he should stop by the office to check out the 36-by-24 oil painting that I made of his boss!”


A round of snaps (and more!) for Bill Hammond,who was chosen as principal of Marion Cross School in Norwich, Vermont. After graduation Bill accepted a position at Hanover High School as a member of the math and English departments, then went to Washington, D.C., before returning to Hanover High. “[H]e has been not just a teacher and mentor, but also a pioneer for new and innovative approaches to teaching that attempt to reach all students,” according to Neil Odell, chairman of the Norwich school board. 


Sharon Roth Franks sent us a beautiful picture of her and her 5-year-old golden retriever Wally. Wally and Sharon are weekly volunteers at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla, California, where Wally makes countless patients, family members and friends of patients, and staff smile. Wally is also a regular at the quarterly therapy dog de-stress event for students during finals week at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), where Sharon works. And Sharon is the director of research proposal development service in the office of research affairs at UCSD.


Debbie Michel Rosch’sfirst novel has been published! Prosper in Love is a story about the perfect marriage. Or is it? You can check out more at www.deborahmichel.net.


Great to hear from all you! Keep sending me news. Forever green.


—Maren Christensen, 166 Sausal Drive, Portola Valley, CA 94028; (650) 529-2396; marenjc@ yahoo.com