Class Note 1980
Class of ’80s roam the girdled earth as destined, but to where?
Ex-Hoosier Richard Williams practices sports medicine in Cookeville, Tennessee. To kick off summer he is taking his children and spouses to Bonnaroo, a weekend of music and family “togetherness” (in a rented RV). We await Dick’s report on how Lil Wayne compared to Stephen Stills.
Kathryn Flitner Wallop suggests Sheridan, Wyoming. Literally. Kathryn recently Facebooked a plug for its frontier downtown, Big Horn Mountains view and enough historical sites for any “History 57” student. Sheridan High has a tremendously talented English and drama teacher. Kate remains a cowgirl, but one with a current passport.
Dennis Geist also loves life out west: “I’ve been a geology professor at University of Idaho for 21 years, specializing in volcanology. Three classmates are geology professors: John Stix (McGill), Craig Feibel (Rutgers) and Cliff Stanley (Acadia). Work takes me from Antarctica to Iceland to the Andes, but mostly to the Galapagos Islands, which has volcanoes as well as giant tortoises. I volunteer for Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) on Galapagos conservation projects; CDF has staved off dozens of extinctions. Outside of work and family (daughter Beryl graduates from college in May, then is off to research Panama coral reefs), I enjoy Idaho—fly fishing, mountain biking and backcountry skiing. I serve as rugby faculty advisor (bail bondsman). After 10 years of bachelorhood I do pretty much everything with Karen Harpp, from volcanoes to raising poorly behaved dogs. Coincidentally, she attended the same college.” Congratulations, Denny, on reaping the rewards of your hard work, and thanks for selectively recalling the 1980 London Dartmouth rugby football club tour.
From Portland, Oregon, Dr. Carol Pelmas reports: “My news is a bit ironic. Last fall, doing home maintenance, I took a fall from our deck. I broke my right leg and left hand. I’ve had surgery and unplanned downtime. Tasting my own medicine as it were. I’m on the comeback trail, plan to resume the bike commute (which should have been the cause of an injury, think darkness, sleet, cars!) and I hope race cyclocross soon. Cyclocross? The perfect sport uniting bikes and mud and kid-like fun. I’ve exchanged e-mails with Anne VanRoden about a spring girls’ spa mini-reunion. Annie’s son (with spouse Joe Hunter) was admitted to MIT early decision. Before we moved I used to see Tony Furnary at the hospital.” Please hold the chant until column end.
Cathy McGrath and Dave Bumsted are organizing mini-reunions everywhere. For deets, see the class website (thanks, Deke) or contact Peter Fowler and Joan Clements Francis in San Francisco; Bri and Rob Schoder in Chicago; Stacey Phillips in L.A.; Mark and Paula Speers in Boston; Joe Mannes, Frank Vecella and Scott Zashin in Dallas; Bill Goodspeed and Meg Coughlin LePage in Portland, Maine; Bump in Atlanta; and Cathy McGrath in the Upper Valley. Mark two future minis on your calendar: Homecoming and Winter Carnival! Regina Rehkamp Ketting attended Carnival this year. The highlight: a rocking Thompson Arena hockey game. Let the chant begin.
—Rob Daisley, 3201 W. Knights Ave., Tampa, FL 33611; robdaisley@me.com; Frank Fesnak, 111 Arbor Place, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010; (610) 581-8889; ffesnak@yahoo.com
