Class Note 1984

Writing a successful Class Notes column can be difficult. Your co-secretaries strive to find a unifying theme for each column. Rather than simply listing names and job titles, we look for a deeper message, something to tie the whole enterprise together. Sometimes we collect stories of classmates with interesting jobs or those who live in interesting places. Devising a new theme every month is a challenge. But then it hit me. Why not talk about me, Eric Grubman? I am this month’s theme. We can review all of your boring lives and spice it up by connecting you to me. You may not realize it, but I’m a big part of your lives.

Let’s start with Bill Hamlen. Bill, his wife, Rowena, and their two daughters have lived in Singapore since 2011. In 2015 Bill retired from his job as an oil trader. He is currently moving back to good old Hanover. All well and good, you say, but no connection to Grubman. Not so fast, gentle reader. Shortly after retiring, Bill sailed halfway across the Pacific Ocean with my brother, David Grubman ’83. That was an easy one.

Lisa Ragen Ide was recently in New Haven, Connecticut, where she ran into Eric Grubman. We talked and I learned that Lisa is currently the medical director at Zipnosis, which works to “create healthy lives through technology.” I’m not sure what any of that means, but I did think it would be fun to have her talk with Ann Armbrecht, who is currently tracing medicinal plants through the supply chain. Pretty much the opposite of Lisa, don’t you think? Ann lives in Vermont, where Eric Grubman often goes skiing.

I don’t have to go all the way to Vermont to find my connections. Willa Ridinger lives right here in my hometown of Woodbridge, Connecticut. Actually, she grew up here and I did not, making this her hometown. In any case, Willa continues to avoid me, despite the fact that my restraining order has expired. I can’t blame her. Willa is a middle school teacher. To find out more about her, I had to consult the authoritative website, ratemyteachers.com. Not surprisingly, Willa is an excellent teacher. According to one enthusiastic reviewer, “Her class was easy and we get a lot of candy.” That’s my kind of teacher.

To top it all off, I was sitting in a community lecture a few weeks ago and a lovely woman sat down next to me. As she did not yet have a restraining order against me, I struck up a conversation. Turns out that her son is none other than Peter Maretz. Peter, who lives in San Diego, is some big-shot labor attorney. Apparently, Peter also grew up in my current hometown. His mom told me some stories, but that will have to wait for the Peter Maretz-themed column.

So there you have it, the Eric Grubman edition of the Class Notes. I’m surprised it took me so long to think of this one.

—Eric Grubman, 2 Fox Den Way, Woodbridge, CT 06525; (203) 710-7933; grubman@sbcglobal.net; Juliet Aires Giglio,4915 Bentbrook Drive, Manlius, NY 13104; julietgiglio@gmail.com